Phrasal Verb
Idiom Cartoons
Beat up on
The phrasal verb "beat up on" means to criticize, blame, or treat someone harshly or unfairly. This phrase is often used in a context where one person or group is being excessively harsh or critical towards another person or group.
The phrase can be used in both a figurative sense (as in criticizing someone's work or ideas) and a literal sense (as in physically attacking someone).
For example, a coach might "beat up on" their team after a loss, criticizing them harshly for their performance. Or, a group of bullies might "beat up on" a smaller or weaker child, physically attacking them and causing harm.
Overall, the phrasal verb "beat up on" implies a sense of unfairness or imbalance of power, in which one person or group is being treated much worse than they deserve. It suggests that the person or group doing the "beating up" has an advantage over the other party, whether it is in terms of physical strength, social status, or influence.
"My cat loves to beat up on me when I'm sleeping, but little does she know that I'm secretly plotting to beat her up by putting catnip in her water bowl and watching her get loopy."