Etymology Journal ยท B
Beats me
Meaning
- A simple, honest way to say you have no idea and are just as confused as the person asking. It is used when you cannot provide an answer.
Casual, indifferent
Used in a sentence
- Where did he park the truck? Beats me.
- Why does the printer only work on Tuesdays? Beats me.
- Do you know why the meeting was canceled? Beats me.
The backstory
This is an American colloquialism that likely implies that the question itself is so difficult or obscure that it has conquered your ability to solve it.
Heard in
Nationwide
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