beat somebody to the punch

== English == === Verb === beat to the punch (third-person singular simple present beats to the punch, present participle beating to the punch, simple past beat to the punch, past participle beaten to the punch or beat to the punch) (idiomatic, transitive) To carry out an action before another person is able to do so. ==== Usage notes ==== The object typically appears between the verb and the preposition: But occasionally other uses can be found: ==== Translations ==== === See also === beat to first blood get the drop on