Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
beat to the punch. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
beat to the punch, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
beat to the punch in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
beat to the punch you have here. The definition of the word
beat to the punch will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
beat to the punch, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Verb
beat to the punch (third-person singular simple present beats to the punch, present participle beating to the punch, simple past beat to the punch, past participle beaten to the punch or beat to the punch)
- (idiomatic, transitive) To carry out an action before another person is able to do so.
I was planning to take care of the problem for him, but he beat me to the punch and did it himself.
Usage notes
- The object typically appears between the verb and the preposition:
Zumbetel was ready to launch the world's thinnest smartphone, but Yalpatel beat them to the punch.
- But occasionally other uses can be found:
With their innovative design, Xollatel beat to the punch both of their main competitors.
Translations
to do something before somebody else can
See also