Pop
beat
What does beat mean?
To beat your face is to do your makeup flawlessly — full coverage, blended to perfection, every angle carved. The word comes from the dab-dab-dab of the sponge against the skin. 'Beat for the gods' is the top grade. A 'beat face' isn't a tired one, it's a finished masterpiece.
"She showed up two hours early just to beat her face — and honey, it was beat for the gods."
Origin
Drag and Black beauty/ballroom slang for skillfully applied makeup, possibly from 'beating' product into the skin. The 'exhausted' sense is a separate, older general slang.
Frequently asked questions
What does beat mean in makeup slang?
It means makeup applied flawlessly and fully. A 'beat face' is a perfectly done face, and the term comes from drag and Black beauty culture.
What does beat for the gods mean?
It's a maxed-out compliment meaning the makeup is flawless to an almost superhuman degree. 'For the gods' is a ballroom intensifier.
Does beat mean tired too?
Yes, in older general slang 'I'm beat' means exhausted. Context tells you which sense applies.
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