beat time

Idioms  

1. Mark musical time by beating a drum, clapping, tapping the foot, or a similar means. For example, Even as a baby, Dave always beat time when he heard music. [Late 1600s]

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Example Sentences

A man in a wheelchair wearing a pale-gray blazer beat time to the music with his eyes closed, a look of intense joy on his face.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 1, 2018

“Perhaps not,” Alice cautiously replied: “but I know I have to beat time when I learn music.”

From Washington Post • Jan. 7, 2016

At a private seminar a few weeks ago, Conductor Morton Gould asked Fleisher to beat time with his right hand, and then asked him to pretend that he was playing the piano.

From Time Magazine Archive

Hey!' while my foot beat time upon the sidewalks of Atlantic City.

From Time Magazine Archive

But boy howdy, I had my arms around her and she was looking up at me, smiling, while Grandpa watched us and beat time to the music.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns