beat a retreat
IdiomsExample Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Journalists who were already staking out the area around Burgenstock under tight security beat a retreat, knowing that the talks could be on again at any moment.
From Barron's ● Jun. 19, 2026
Along with outsize earnings-day stock losses for AT&T, U.S. equity benchmarks beat a retreat.
From Reuters ● Apr. 21, 2023
The surge has led states and cities across the U.S. to beat a retreat, just weeks after it looked as if the country was going to see a close-to-normal summer.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 2, 2021
“The students’ reasoning is if they are to beat a retreat without achieving anything tangible, it will be difficult to regroup,” said Lam.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2014
“Undoubtedly,” assented Fordham, blandly, preparing to beat a retreat from the table under cover of his reply, for the dessert had already gone round, and the room was emptying fast.
From Fordham's Feud by Mitford, Bertram
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
