beat-up

[ beet-uhp ]

/ ˈbitˈʌp /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR beat-up ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

Informal. dilapidated; in poor condition from use: a beat-up old jalopy.

noun

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

Origin of beat-up

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

Words nearby beat-up

beat the rap, Beattie, beat time, beat to it, Beatty, beat-up, beat wave, beaty, beau, Beau Brummell, beaucoup

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for beat-up

And yet, not only has the McConnell machine failed to shift into higher gear, it has sputtered worse than a beat-up jalopy.
Is Mitch McConnell Trying to Lose?|Jonathan Miller|March 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In front of it stood a beat-up stove on top of which sat a shoulder of pork braising in hot manteca (lard).
A Culinary Tour to Answer the Age-Old Question: Why Is Mexican Food So Good?|Condé Nast Traveler|November 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Aussie would drive from audition to audition in her beat-up car, only to be shot down on the regular.
Oscar Nominees’ Most Embarrassing Roles: Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence & More (VIDEO)|Marlow Stern|February 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST
That same day, Hanger pulled over a beat-up Mercury Marquis with no license plates cruising down a highway headed to Kansas.
Oklahoma City Bombing’s Unanswered Questions in New Book|Michael Isikoff|April 18, 2012|DAILY BEAST

But not without that bike in front of me with a big jukebox to distract me from being a beat-up little kid.
Sandra Bullock's Ex Jesse James Opens Up|Marlow Stern|May 5, 2011|DAILY BEAST
They come galloping in on camel-back or in beat-up old vehicles, firing their hunting rifles into the air.
Border, Breed Nor Birth|Dallas McCord Reynolds
Auerbach shoved himself down off the bench, and pulled out a beat-up package of cigarettes.
Sense from Thought Divide|Mark Irvin Clifton
Alec, you beat-up little grease pot, what brings you to New York?
The Velvet Glove|Harry Harrison

British Dictionary definitions for beat-up

beat up

/ informal /

verb

(tr, adverb) to strike or kick (a person), usually repeatedly, so as to inflict severe physical damage

beat oneself up informal to reproach oneself

adjective beat-up

worn-out; dilapidated

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with beat-up