beef

Meat from a cow or other cattle, eaten as food.

• We had beef for dinner.
• She added beef to the stew.
• Would you prefer chicken or roast beef?

Similar words: cowflesh, oxflesh

Common phrases: roast beef, ground beef, beef stew, minced beef

A complaint about something, or a reason for being annoyed with someone.

• What's your beef with me?
• My main beef is the slow service.
• Several customers raised beefs about the new charges.

How to use it: have a beef with someone/something (I have a beef with the way they charge customers.); a beef about something (Her main beef about the hotel was the noise.)

Similar words: complaint, grievance

Common phrases: beef with someone, beef about something, main beef

The main or most important content of a document, argument, or project.

• The introduction is short; the beef comes later.
• The beef of her paper concerns local housing.
• Cut the empty promises and give the proposal some beef.

How to use it: the beef of something (The beef of the report is its detailed cost analysis.)

Similar words: substance, essence, core

Common phrases: beef of something, real beef

Describing cattle raised for their meat rather than for their milk.

• They raise beef cattle.
• The farmer bought six beef calves.
• Which beef breeds grow well in this climate?

Opposites: dairy

Common phrases: beef cattle, beef calves, beef breeds

Describing a place or business that raises many cattle for meat.

• This is beef country.
• Several beef farms surround the town.
• His family owns a large beef ranch.

Common phrases: beef farm, beef country, beef ranch

To release gas from your bottom.

• Someone beefed in the lift.
• He beefed loudly and laughed.
• Did you just beef under the blanket?

Similar words: fart, break wind

Common phrases: beef loudly, beef in bed

To shed tears because you are sad, hurt, or upset.

• He beefed after the argument.
• She was beefing because her favourite cup had broken.
• Don't beef; we can fix your bike.

Similar words: cry, weep, sob

Common phrases: beef all night, beef about something