beat hollow

adjective, hol·low·er, hol·low·est.

1. having a space or cavity inside; not solid; empty: a hollow sphere.
2. having a depression or concavity: a hollow surface.
3. sunken, as the cheeks or eyes.
4. (of sound) not resonant; dull, muffled, or deep: a hollow voice.
5. without real or significant worth; meaningless: a hollow victory.
6. insincere or false: hollow compliments.
7. hungry; having an empty feeling: I feel absolutely hollow, so let’s eat.

noun

8. an empty space within anything; a hole, depression, or cavity.
9. a valley: They took the sheep to graze in the hollow.
10. Foundry. a concavity connecting two surfaces otherwise intersecting at an obtuse angle.

verb (used with object)

11. to make hollow (often followed by out): to hollow out a log.
12. to form by making something hollow (often followed by out): to hollow a place in the sand; boats hollowed out of logs.

verb (used without object)

13. to become hollow.

adverb

14. in a hollow manner: The politician’s accusations rang hollow.

Idioms

15. beat all hollow, to surpass or outdo completely: His performance beat the others all hollow.Also beat hollow.

adjective

1. having a hole, cavity, or space within; not solid
2. having a sunken area; concave
3. recessed or deeply sethollow cheeks
4. (of sounds) as if resounding in a hollow place
5. without substance or validity
6. hungry or empty
7. insincere; cynical
8. a hollow leg or hollow legs the capacity to eat or drink a lot without ill effects

adverb

9. beat someone hollow British informal to defeat someone thoroughly and convincingly

noun

10. a cavity, opening, or space in or within something
11. a depression or dip in the land

verb (often foll by out, usually when tr)

12. to make or become hollow
13. to form (a hole, cavity, etc) or (of a hole, etc) to be formed

adj.

c.1200, from Old English holh (n.) “hollow place, hole,” from Proto-Germanic *hul-, from PIE *kel- “to cover, conceal” (see cell). The figurative sense of “insincere” is attested from 1520s. Related: Hollowly; hollowness. To carry it hollow “take it completely” is first recorded 1660s, of unknown origin or connection.

v.

late 14c., holowen, from hollow (adj.). Related: Hollowed; hollowing.

n.

“lowland, valley, basin,” 1550s, probably a modern formation from hollow (adj.). Old English had holh (n.) “cave, den; internal cavity.”

see under beat the pants off.

see beat the pants off (hollow).