beef
meat from cows
Meat from a cow that people eat.
[someone] eats [beef]
- We had grilled beef with vegetables for dinner.
- The price of beef has gone up this year.
- She doesn’t eat beef for religious reasons.
- This restaurant is famous for its beef stew.
- He ordered a beef burger and fries.
- I like to eat beef on the weekend.
- My father is cooking beef for lunch.
- They do not sell beef in that shop.
- She made a soup with beef and potatoes.
complaint or grievance
A problem or complaint that you have about someone or something.
have a beef with [someone/something]
- If you’ve got a beef with me, just say it.
- My only beef with this phone is the short battery life.
- What’s your beef with the new manager?
- She still has a beef about the way they treated her.
- We talked it through and settled our beef.
- Do you have a beef with your boss?
- My beef with this class is the homework; it is too long.
- He has no beef with you; he is just tired.
- Her main beef is that the trains are always late.
complain in an annoyed way
To say again and again that you are unhappy about something.
beef about [something]
- He’s always beefing about his low salary.
- Stop beefing and do something about it.
- They went online to beef about the poor service.
- She beefed to HR about the new policy.
- The fans are still beefing about the ticket prices.
- My friend always beefs about his job.
- People beef online when they are unhappy with a product.
- He beefed about the long line at the bank.
- She is beefing again about the noise upstairs.
physical size or muscular strength
Big, strong muscles and physical power.
[someone] has (the) beef
- He’s put on some serious beef at the gym.
- The team needs more beef on the defensive line.
- They hired extra beef to move the heavy equipment.
- The new engine gives the truck a lot more beef.
- You can really see the beef in his shoulders.
- He goes to the gym to get more beef.
- The guards have a lot of beef; they are very strong.
- This small car has no beef; it is not very powerful.
- They need more beef to lift that big box.
serious conflict or feud
A serious and sometimes long fight or problem between people or groups.
[someone] has beef with [someone]
- The two rappers have had beef for years.
- Nobody wants street beef spilling into the club.
- They finally squashed the beef after a long meeting.
- There’s some serious beef between those two families.
- He went on live to talk about the beef with his former partner.
- The two singers have beef and do not talk.
- He does not want any beef with his neighbors.
- They had beef in the past, but now they are friends.
- There is online beef between the two groups.
cattle raised for meat
Cows and similar animals that farmers keep to make beef meat.
[someone] raises beef
- The region is known for high-quality beef cattle.
- He runs a small beef operation in the valley.
- Global demand for beef has affected local farmers.
- They decided to switch from dairy to beef production.
- Beef prices rose after a disease hit several herds.
- His family keeps beef on their farm.
- Many farmers in this area raise beef.
- The country exports a lot of beef to other nations.
- They changed from dairy cows to beef cows.
- Base: beef
- Plural: beef, beefs, beeves
- Base: beef
- 3rd Person Singular: beefs
- Present Participle: beefing
- Past: beefed
beef about
1complain about something
To complain in an annoyed way about something.
- He’s always beefing about the noise next door.
- People often beef about the trains being late.
beef up
1make stronger or more effective
To make something stronger, bigger, or more effective.
- They beefed up security after the break-in.
- The company is beefing up its marketing team this year.
- You should beef up your résumé before applying.
have a beef with
1have a complaint about
To have a problem or complaint about a person or thing.
- If you have a beef with the service, talk to the manager.
- She has a beef with the way the company treats its staff.
- I don’t have a beef with you; I just disagree.
no beef
1no conflict or problem
Used to say there is no problem or conflict with someone.
- We’ve got no beef; everything’s cool between us.
- He said there was no beef and that it was all a misunderstanding.
squash the beef
1end a conflict or feud
To end a serious argument or conflict and make peace.
- The two artists met in private to squash the beef.
- They finally squashed the beef and shook hands on stage.
squash the beef
1settle a conflict
To stop fighting and make peace.
- They finally met up to squash the beef after months of arguing.
- If you want to squash the beef, just apologize and move on.
- He called her to squash the beef before the event.
what's your beef?
1ask what someone’s problem is
Used to ask someone why they are angry or unhappy, or what their complaint is.
- What’s your beef? I was only trying to help.
- He walked in looking angry, so I asked, “What’s your beef?”
where's the beef?
1ask where the substance is
Used to say that something does not seem to have real value, facts, or results.
- The ad sounds great, but where’s the beef?
- Politicians make promises, but voters want to know: where’s the beef?