beat (someone) to the punch
phrase
: to do or achieve something before someone else is able to
We were working on a new product but before we could get it into the market our competition beat us to the punch.
Cite this Entry
“Beat (someone) to the punch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beat%20%28someone%29%20to%20the%20punch. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
