take a beating
phrase
: to be beaten badly in a game or contest
The team took a beating in last night's game.
—often used figuratively to suggest a setback or lossOur plans took a real beating from the review committee.
Many investors took quite a (bad) beating when the stock market crashed.
Cite this Entry
“Take a beating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20a%20beating. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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