TO BEAT THE BAND Definition & Meaning

to beat the band

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Also, to beat all . To the greatest possible degree. For example, The baby was crying to beat the band , or The wind is blowing to beat the band , or John is dressed up to beat all . This idiom uses beat in the sense of “surpass.” The first term may, according to one theory, allude to a desire to arrive before the musicians who led a parade, so as to see the entire event. Another theory holds that it means “make more noise than (and thereby beat) a loud band.” [ Colloquial ; late 1800s]

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“It’s raining to beat the band...perfect marbles weather!”

From

Charlie, though, creates songs and sings them as well, and he can play guitar to beat the band.

From

The show ends with most of the company taking a turn on the Russian swing — that’s a kind of horseless sledge — flinging themselves high into the air and smiling to beat the band.

From

Don’t seem right that it’s a beautiful summer day, with the sun shining to beat the band.

From

My bare left foot patted to beat the band while she was singing “Yes, Sir, That’s My Baby.”

From

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Browse

�y��vlog

to beat the band

Idioms and Phrases

Example Sentences