beat-up

[ beet-uhp ]

adjective

1. Informal. dilapidated; in poor condition from use:

   a beat-up old jalopy.

noun

1. the warpwise count of tufts of pile in the warp of carpets.

beat up

verb

1. tr, adverb to strike or kick (a person), usually repeatedly, so as to inflict severe physical damage
2. beat oneself up informal.
   beat oneself up to reproach oneself

adjective

1. worn-out; dilapidated

Word History and Origins

Origin of beat-up¹

First recorded in 1935–40; adj., noun use of verb phrase beat up

Example Sentences

Lots of Republicans feel they were sent to Washington to beat up on immigrants.

From The Daily Beast

I got to beat up on those kids with the perfectly pressed uniforms.

From The Daily Beast

Watching her drown her sorrows in hooch and then get beat up by Crazy Eyes in the showers was ghastly…but great television.

From The Daily Beast

If Poroshenko is afraid of fighting a woman, nobody would believe he could beat up Putin!

From The Daily Beast

When our hero is ambushed by dozens of agents in an elevator, we see him beat up every single one in close combat.

From The Daily Beast

And Sara Lee beat up the eggs and found, after a bad moment, some salt in a box, and then poured her omelet into the pan.

From Project Gutenberg

The captain refused, telling me why; and at last I had to beat up for people almost with prayers.

From Project Gutenberg

The French and Turkish fleets combined were ten leagues south this morning, trying to beat up to us.

From Project Gutenberg

We'll beat up through this channel to the north side of the ice-field.

From Project Gutenberg

Yes, I'm the one that got wet, but you're the one that got beat up!

From Project Gutenberg