miss a beat

phrase

chiefly US : to have difficulty in continuing : to stop or hesitate briefly

—often used in negative constructions

The company changed ownership without missing a beat.

A few minutes later, the power cuts out …, but Achmed doesn't miss a beat; clearly, he's used to this.

—Eric Weiner

Examples of miss a beat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Textured and supportive, the Vuori Women’s Inversion Rib Leggings will take you from the yoga studio to an afternoon of sightseeing without missing a beat. — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026

Thanks to strong multi-surface suction, this upright vacuum can go right from the living room carpet to the kitchen without missing a beat (or a crumb). — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 12 Aug. 2026

But don’t be fooled; the team here—from the general manager to the bar staff—never misses a beat. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 July 2026

Bryan Murray barely missed a beat going from Anaheim to Ottawa, David Poile won a ton of games in Washington and then Nashville, and Lou Lamoriello exceeded all expectations with the Islanders. — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for miss a beat

• bittersweet
• incomplete
• indiscreet
• marguerite
• obsolete
• overeat
• overheat
• parakeet
• stillingfleet
• superheat
• amit
• athlete