Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

beat a hasty retreat

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.23 in modern English

Syllables: beat- a hasty re-treat
IPA

25

Scrabble Score

17

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To leave as quickly as possible.

Example Sentences

"A few nights ago, a fair trader had commenced unloading her cargo, consisting of light goods, in the Pent, but in the midst of the operation was discovered by the Philistines, and obliged to beat a hasty retreat across the rope-walk to the sea..."
"I found not a sole around and beat a hasty retreat, but before leaving I took a look around and was impressed by the location and proximity of the lagoon."
"After apologizing profusely, I beat a hasty retreat."
"I caught a glimpse of him beating a hasty retreat through a smaller doorway that I hadn't seen before."
"Then I suddenly woke up with a start and discovered that I was in an empty room. The mysterious stranger had evidently beat a hasty retreat!"

Etymology

Originally a military term, referring to the pace set by drummers in the British army.

Inflected Forms

beats a hasty retreat (present, singular) beating a hasty retreat (participle, present) beaten a hasty retreat (participle, past)

Questions

What does beat a hasty retreat mean?: To leave as quickly as possible.
Where does beat a hasty retreat come from?: Originally a military term, referring to the pace set by drummers in the British army.

How to pronounce beat a hasty retreat

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