beat me

What does that mean ' beat me to the punch ' ?

Seems common but unavailable in many dictionaires ? Strange

Thanks in advance

Quote:

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Originally Posted by whl626

What does that mean ' beat me to the punch ' ?

Seems common but unavailable in many dictionaires ? Strange

Thanks in advance

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When you win a race or a game before another person, you beat them to the finish line. You win.

When you tell a joke, the last words of the joke are called the punch-line. For example,

Joke
What did one wall say to the other wall?
Punch-line: I'll meet you in the corner.

To beat someone to the punch-line, means to say something before someone else has a chance to say it.

All the best,

As Cas said:

• beat me to the punch = did it before I could

:)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by whl626

What does that mean ' beat me to the punch ' ?

Seems common but unavailable in many dictionaires ? Strange

Thanks in advance

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I agree with Cas and Ron. I just want to make it clear that "beat someone to the punch" is not confined to jokes or races. It can mean doing or saying anything before someone else.

Dad: I came down to make coffee, but Mom beat me to the punch.

I only knew ' beat me to it ' :) Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by whl626

I only knew ' beat me to it ' :) Thanks

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English has many colorful idioms. :shock: