Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to beat the stuffing out of

to beat the stuffing out of

1 9.0
Hit someone many times until they are badly hurt
  • idiom
  • Offensive
translation icon : dar una paliza a
  • I would consider beating the stuffing out of the neighbor who complained.

Examples

  • During the fight, Mark managed to beat the stuffing out of his opponent with impressive strength.

  • Who never had a real job (wingnut characterization) is running a smart, near-flawless, multi-zillion campaign and is beating the stuffing out of Mr. Wealthy.

    Blog text (4)

  • Apparently, you have to really like, you know, beat the stuffing out of it...

    Playing for Keeps (2012)

  • He'd get up in the morning with no memory of having beat the stuffing out of us the night before.

    Albert Nobbs (2011)

  • (Morse code operators invariably beat the stuffing out of teen text messagers in speed-of-sending competitions.)

    Blog text (4)

  • In the heated argument, John was so angry that he threatened to beat the stuffing out of anyone who opposed him.

  • After a tough altercation, I felt like I had been beaten the stuffing out of by that group of bullies.

Synonyms

to beat up
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Offensive
271 4.1

To attack someone by hitting them again and again to hurt them

stresses overpowering someone in a fight rather than just punishment
to beat the shit out of
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Offensive
53 9.9

To hurt or defeat someone very badly, often by hitting them

emphasizes defeating or overpowering someone in physical combat
to pummel
vsto beat the stuffing out of
46 6.7

Hit something many times, usually with your fists

involves full overpowering and defeating through force rather than only striking
to kick someone's ass
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Offensive
45 9.0

To beat or punish someone very badly

specifically involves physically overpowering in a violent confrontation
to overwhelm
vsto beat the stuffing out of
42 4.0

Defeat someone or something completely using greater force

is more about direct physical overpowering in a close fight
to beat to a pulp
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Offensive
15 7.6

Hit someone many times until they are badly hurt or win against them very clearly

is about overpowering or defeating someone in violent confrontation
to kick-ass
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Offensive
11 8.7

To beat someone by a large amount in a contest or game

applies more to physical overpowering in a violent fight context
to clobber
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Informal
8 7.7

To beat someone completely in a game or fight

highlights overpowering with great force in a direct fight
to wipe the floor with
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Informal
8 7.5

To beat someone completely in a game or contest

is narrower, focusing specifically on physical overpowering in fights
to slug it out
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Informal
7 8.0

Fight or compete hard until one side wins

is about overpowering someone quickly and forcefully rather than prolonged struggle
to thrash
vsto beat the stuffing out of
6 4.5

Beat someone completely in a game or contest

leans more toward violent physical overpowering in close combat
to beat the pants off
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Informal
3 7.7

Win easily by a lot against another person or team

specifies doing so by physical force and overpowering in a fight
to beat someone's brains out
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Offensive
1 9.4

To work very hard or to threaten to hit someone

here refers only to physical overpowering and defeating by force
to beat someone's ass
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To defeat someone completely, often physically or in a game, used in rude speech

makes explicit the physical overpowering and great force aspect
to wallop
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Informal
1 6.7

To beat someone very easily and completely in a game or contest

specifies physical overpowering in a violent encounter rather than general defeat
to beat the daylights out of
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Offensive
1 8.6

To hit someone or something very hard and damage it

focuses specifically on overpowering a person in a violent fight
to smash someone's face in
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Offensive
1 9.8

Hit someone in the face very hard to hurt them

is broader, covering overpowering or defeating beyond just facial injury
to kick some tail
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Slang
1 8.8

Beat someone by a lot

focuses on physical force and overpowering rather than general winning
to beat the poop out of
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Offensive
9.6

Hit someone many times so they become badly hurt

focuses on overpowering or defeating someone in a violent fight
to knock the living daylights out of
vsto beat the stuffing out of
  • Offensive
9.9

To hit someone very hard or to shock someone very much

focuses more on overpowering and defeating in a fight context
to overbeat
vsto beat the stuffing out of
4.9

Defeat an opponent easily in a game or contest

is more specific to close physical overpowering and violent defeat

Antonyms

to spare
77 3.5

Decide not to hurt someone even though you could

How Violent

to beat the stuffing out of
  • Offensive
1 9.0
to beat to a pulp
  • Offensive
15 7.6
to beat up
  • Offensive
271 4.1
to pummel
46 6.7
to punch
455 1.4
to hit
∞ 1.0
to tap
174 1.0

Surface Forms

beat the stuffing out of infinitive
beat the stuffing out of past
beaten the stuffing out of past participle
beating the stuffing out of present participle
beats the stuffing out of third person singular

Morphology

beat + the + stuffing + out + of

The core components — 'beat' (to hit) and 'out' (completely) — transparently signal severe physical hitting, and 'stuffing' supplies a vivid metaphor (as if the person were a cushion). However, the use of 'stuffing' is figurative and hyperbolic rather than strictly compositional, so the exact idiomatic force and naturalness of the phrase would likely require some exposure for a B1 learner.

Etymology

Beat the stuffing out of paints a simple picture: imagine beating a stuffed pillow or toy so hard that the stuffing flies out. That's why it now means 'to hit or defeat someone very badly'.