to beat the tar out of
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To belabour, or beat without mercy. The phrase possibly originated in the attempt to free a sheep's wool from the tar applied to heal any cuts received during shearing.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to beat the tar out of” mean?
To belabour, or beat without mercy. The phrase possibly originated in the attempt to free a sheep's wool from the tar applied to heal any cuts received during shearing.
Is “to beat the tar out of” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.