beat up
hit someone many times and hurt them badly
What does "beat sb up" mean?
Examples
- He beat up a stranger outside the bar and was arrested immediately.
- She was beaten up on her way home from work last night.
- Stop beating yourself up — it wasn't your fault.
How to use it
The most common active form, where the person being attacked comes between 'beat' and 'up'.
A group of strangers beat the man up and ran off.
When the object is a pronoun (him, her, them, me), it must go between 'beat' and 'up' — never after 'up'.
He started an argument and they beat him up right there on the street.
With longer noun phrases, the object more naturally follows 'up' without separation.
The gang beat up several people who were walking through the area.
The 'get' passive is very common in informal speech and puts the focus on the victim rather than the attacker.
He got beaten up badly outside the stadium after the match.
The 'be' passive is also natural, especially in news reports or when the attacker is unknown.
Two men were beaten up in the car park last Friday night.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'beat' and 'up'. Placing it after the particle is ungrammatical in English.
'Beat someone up' describes a real physical attack on another person. 'Beat yourself up' is a completely different, figurative expression meaning to blame or criticise yourself too much — it has nothing to do with violence.
'Beat up' in the present continuous sounds strange unless you mean an attack that is literally happening right now. For habits or general statements, use the simple present or past.
Usage
This phrasal verb is informal; in formal writing, use 'assault' or 'attack' instead. Note that 'beat yourself up' (no object pronoun between verb and particle in this reflexive use) is a common figurative expression in both BrE and AmE meaning to blame or criticise yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'beat up' be used in the passive?
Yes — and it is actually very common in the passive, especially when the victim is the focus or the attacker is unknown. Both 'was beaten up' and 'got beaten up' are natural. In informal speech, 'got beaten up' is often more common than 'was beaten up'.
Is 'beat up' British or American English?
It is used in both British and American English. However, 'beat up on someone' (with 'on') is more of an American English form and can also be used figuratively to mean bullying or criticising someone. In British English, 'beat up' without 'on' is the standard form.
Does 'beat-up' (with a hyphen) mean the same thing?
No — 'beat-up' as a hyphenated adjective has a completely different meaning. It describes something that is old, worn out, or in bad condition, like 'a beat-up old car'. It has nothing to do with physical violence.
What kinds of situations is 'beat up' used to describe?
It typically describes a serious, sustained physical attack — not just a single punch or small scuffle. Common contexts include street attacks, fights near bars or clubs, muggings, and bullying. The key idea is that the attack is repeated and causes real harm.
Can I use 'beat up' in formal writing?
It is better to avoid it in formal writing. 'Beat up' is informal and mainly used in spoken English, casual writing, and tabloid news. In formal contexts, words like 'assault' or 'attack' are more appropriate.
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