miss a beat

Idioms

Hesitate momentarily, out of embarrassment or confusion. This expression is most often used in a negative context, as in He sidestepped the reporter's probe into his personal life without missing a beat, or Not missing a beat, she outlined all the reasons for her decision. This expression alludes to the regular beat of musical time. [Mid-1900s]

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar – One night, about 100 women from the Women in Auto Care conference I was attending descended on this place with zero warning — and the staff didn’t miss a beat.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

The Serbian big man did not miss a beat.

From Barron's • Jan. 31, 2026

And when Seattle signed him this past offseason, he didn’t miss a beat.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

"She's just been amazing, didn't miss a beat," the post added.

From BBC • Aug. 12, 2025

Byron chirped up, “Ain’t that the whole natural truth?” but Dad didn’t miss a beat.

From "The Watsons Go to Birmingham" by Christopher Paul Curtis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023