Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
- v. To drive something away with blows or military force. Now often used figuratively.
- v. (chiefly US, Canada) To masturbate, usually a man of himself.
- v. To waste time.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Examples
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At first Bâtard would crowd himself into the smallest possible space, grovelling close to the floor; but as the music came nearer and nearer, he was forced to uprear, his back jammed into the logs, his fore legs fanning the air as though to beat off the rippling waves of sound.
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Admiral Barrington, when moored in a similar manner off St. Lucia, in the year 1778, beat off the Comte d'Estaign in three several attacks, though his force was inferior by almost one-third to that which assailed it.
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On June 2, 1940, fighting a two-day rear-guard action to cover the withdrawal of the British Army from Norway, the Hurricane and Gloster squad - rons flew seventy-five sorties, fought twenty-four engagements, brought down nine enemy aircraft without a loss and beat off every attempt of the M. E.110s to dive-bomb shipping congregated at Harstad.
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Moreover, Satan now employs all his engines to beat off the efficacy and power of this work; and when his temptations and delusions are mixed with men's natural darkness and vanity, the mind seems to be impregnably fortified against the power of conviction: for although it be [only] real conversion unto God that overthrows the kingdom of Satan in us, yet this work of conviction raiseth such a combustion in it that he cannot but fear it will be its end; and this strong man armed would, if possible, keep his goods and house in peace.
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With some little effort he had beat off the next dog that bit at him, striking at it with short downward blows like tamping dirt around a new-set post.
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Pate again beat off the hard-striking blue-coats—but in so doing yielded his life.4
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"From the bank we saw them beat off the Triads; then they refloated the boat and went down-river."
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We must n't reap the corners of our fields, nor beat off all our olive-berries, but leave 'em for the poor, the fatherless, and the widow, Scripture says.
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