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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Beat someone to it

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

To do something before another person who also intended to do it.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. I was going to make the tea, but you beat me to it.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

To do something before another person who also intended to do it.
Show the answer

Beat someone to it — To do something before another person who also intended to do it.

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Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Beat someone to it” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

To do something before another person who also intended to do it.

Compare: I was going to make the tea, but you beat me to it.

Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

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GO DEEPER

More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use it conversationally when someone acts first, whether in a friendly situation or a competition.

More examples in context

  • She hoped to suggest the idea first, but her colleague beat her to it.
  • We reached for the last available room, but another group had beaten us to it.

Usage note

Put the person after beat: beat me, her or them to it. The past tense is beat, and the participle is beaten.

A short conversation

A: I was about to email the revised timetable.
B: I have already sent it.
A: You beat me to it—thanks for sorting it out.

One more practice question

What does “You beat me to it” mean?

A. You waited until after I had completed it.
B. You did it before I had the chance to do it.

Check your answer

B. The other person acted first.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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