Beat your brains out
verb phrase
To try very hard to think of a solution to a problem.
I have been beating my brains out to solve this math problem.
Often appears as...
- beating my brains out over
- beat your brains out trying
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To apply great effort or endure hardship.
He has been beating his brains out in the gym to lose weight.
Often appears as...
- beat your brains out working
- beat his brains out training
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To physically attack someone severely, especially on the head.
He threatened to beat her brains out.
Often appears as...
- threaten to beat someone's brains out
- beat his brains out with
Usage tips
Informal, Violent
Colloquial
verb phrase
To try very hard to think of a solution to a problem.
I have been beating my brains out to solve this math problem.
Often appears as...
- beating my brains out over
- beat your brains out trying
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To apply great effort or endure hardship.
He has been beating his brains out in the gym to lose weight.
Often appears as...
- beat your brains out working
- beat his brains out training
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To physically attack someone severely, especially on the head.
He threatened to beat her brains out.
Often appears as...
- threaten to beat someone's brains out
- beat his brains out with
Usage tips
Informal, Violent
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphoric intensity
This phrase exaggerates effort by likening intense thinking to a violent act.
She was beating her brains out to remember the answer.
Pro Tip 2/3Frustration implied
Often used to express frustration during challenging mental tasks.
I've been beating my brains out trying to learn calculus.
Pro Tip 3/3Not literal
It doesn't mean physical harm; it's a figure of speech for effort.
They're beating their brains out to solve the puzzle.
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphoric intensity
This phrase exaggerates effort by likening intense thinking to a violent act.
She was beating her brains out to remember the answer.
Pro Tip 2/3Frustration implied
Often used to express frustration during challenging mental tasks.
I've been beating my brains out trying to learn calculus.
Pro Tip 3/3Not literal
It doesn't mean physical harm; it's a figure of speech for effort.
They're beating their brains out to solve the puzzle.
Pro Tip 1/3Metaphoric intensity
This phrase exaggerates effort by likening intense thinking to a violent act.
She was beating her brains out to remember the answer.
Pro Tip 2/3Frustration implied
Often used to express frustration during challenging mental tasks.
I've been beating my brains out trying to learn calculus.
Pro Tip 3/3Not literal
It doesn't mean physical harm; it's a figure of speech for effort.
They're beating their brains out to solve the puzzle.
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