beat someone/something out

beat out

1. To outperform or best someone in order win or achieve something. You beat out a lot of very qualified candidates for this internship.2. To strike the keys of a piano to play a song. I think your sister is trying to beat out "Hot Cross Buns" on the piano. Whenever my neighbor is beating out something on his piano, you can hear it all the way down the street.3. To strike a keyboard in order to type something. You better beat that essay out fast because class starts in an hour!See also: beat, out

beat someone/something out

tv. to outdistance someone or some group; to perform better than someone or some group. We have to beat the other company out, and then we’ll have the contract. See also: beat, out, someone, something