beat a retreat

Meaning

1. beat a (hasty) retreat

   to go away or back quickly, especially to avoid sth unpleasant

In the movies · 1

• l gather she beat a hasty retreat down the backstairs.Brief Encounter1945

From the same entry

• beat about the bush
• beat at their own game
• beat your brains out
• beat your breast
• beat the clock
• beat it
• beat a path to door
• beat the rap
• beat time
• beat to the punch
• can you beat that
• if you can't beat them, join them