- a stick to beat someone with
- formal
a piece of information or an argument that can be used for criticizing or punishing someone
This report is being used as yet another stick to beat nurses with.
English dictionary. 2014.
a stick to beat someone with
Look at other dictionaries:
stick to beat someone with — (or stick with which to beat someone) Brit informal : something that is used to attack or punish someone or to make an attack or punishment seem reasonable or right The fee is just another stick with which to beat the unions. These charges have… … Useful english dictionary
(a) stick to beat someone with — a stick to beat someone with formal phrase a piece of information or an argument that can be used for criticizing or punishing someone This report is being used as yet another stick to beat nurses with. Thesaurus: general words for information,… … Useful english dictionary
(a) stick to beat someone with — a stick to beat (someone/something) with British something that gives you an excuse for criticizing someone or something that you do not like or approve of. As far as the opposition are concerned, the slightest hint of scandal is yet another… … New idioms dictionary
(a) stick to beat something with — a stick to beat (someone/something) with British something that gives you an excuse for criticizing someone or something that you do not like or approve of. As far as the opposition are concerned, the slightest hint of scandal is yet another… … New idioms dictionary
stick — stick1 [ stık ] (past tense and past participle stuck [ stʌk ] ) verb *** ▸ 1 attach something to something ▸ 2 put quickly & carelessly ▸ 3 push something long into something ▸ 4 become difficult to move ▸ 5 when name is accepted ▸ 6 in card… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
beat — [[t]bi͟ːt[/t]] ♦ beats, beating, beaten (The form beat is used in the present tense and is the past tense.) 1) VERB If you beat someone or something, you hit them very hard. [V n] My wife tried to stop them and they beat her... [V n to n] They… … English dictionary
stick — I [[t]stɪ̱k[/t]] NOUN USES ♦♦♦ sticks 1) N COUNT A stick is a thin branch which has fallen off a tree. ...people carrying bundles of dried sticks to sell for firewood. Syn: twig 2) N COUNT A stick is a long thin piece of wood which is used for… … English dictionary
stick — I UK [stɪk] / US verb Word forms stick : present tense I/you/we/they stick he/she/it sticks present participle sticking past tense stuck UK [stʌk] / US past participle stuck *** 1) [transitive] to push something long and thin into or through… … English dictionary
beat — beat1 W2S2 [bi:t] v past tense beat past participle beaten [ˈbi:tn] ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(competition/election)¦ 2¦(hit)¦ 3¦(hit against)¦ 4¦(do better)¦ 5¦(be better)¦ 6¦(food)¦ 7¦(control/deal with)¦ … Dictionary of contemporary English
beat — 1 verb /bi:t/ past tense beat past participle beaten / bi:tn/ 1 DEFEAT (T) a) to get the most points, votes etc in a game, race, or competition: Brazil were beaten in the final 2 1. | I could always beat my brother at chess. | beat sb hollow… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
