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to leave a place or situation quickly to avoid difficulty or trouble
The protesters beat a hasty retreat when the police arrived.
The protesters quickly left to avoid confrontation with the police.
After realizing the meeting was boring, he beat a hasty retreat to the coffee machine.
He quickly left the meeting to get coffee instead.
Often implies avoiding an awkward or unpleasant situation rather than physical danger.
Use 'beat a hasty retreat' when someone leaves a situation quickly to avoid trouble, boredom, or confrontation. It’s often used in social or work contexts rather than literal military retreat.
This idiom is figurative. It does not refer to actual military retreat or physical beating. Focus on the idea of quickly leaving to avoid difficulty.
The phrase originates from military contexts where 'retreat' refers to a tactical withdrawal. 'Hasty' emphasizes the speed of the action. The verb 'beat' here means 'to signal' (as in 'beat the drum'), suggesting the idea of quickly signaling a retreat.
This idiom is often used humorously or lightheartedly to describe leaving a boring or awkward situation. It can also imply avoiding responsibility or confrontation.