A dictionary of Confusable Phrases: More Than 10,000 Idioms and Collocations

beat the band • to beat the band
beat the band —(coll.) be most improbable or extraordinary
(also: beat all): I have heard of unretentive memories but that
beats the band.
to beat the band —(U.S. coll.) to an extreme degree: Guests
can use their brainpower to beat the band and win a free drink
for every right answer.
beat the clock • beat the time
beat the clock —complete the task before a stated time: Any
job is much harder if you are trying to beat the clock.
Note: 
The expression does not correlate in meaning with the
phrase flog the clock—(Nautical) move the hands of the clock
forward (to quit one’s job before the due time): I got suspicious
that the clock was being flogged in the interest of making the
time of those in the mate’s watch shorter.
beat the time —
1
. (Music) mark or follow the rhythm with
the feet, a baton, etc. (also: beat time): The captain joined in
with a long raucous song, beating time on the tea tray. 2.
(Sport) improve on smb.’s achievement: He’s hoping to ride
two hundred miles in less than eight and a half hours, beating
the time set by an eccentric Yorkshireman in 
1
83
1
.
beat the socks off someone • knock someone’s
socks off
beat the socks off someone —(coll., also: beat someone’s pants
off ) win decisively over an opponent in a competition: The
true bingo professionals — like us — will beat the socks off the
amateurs every time.
knock someone’s socks off—(U.S. coll.) impress smb. greatly;
amaze or stun a person: You wouldn’t expect teenagers to sing
opera, but these kids will knock your socks off.
See also: pull one’s socks up / work one’s socks off.
beat the target • hit the target
beat the target—do better than planned: It provides incen-
tives to adopt new technologies to meet the target and to beat
the target.
hit the target—meet the target; achieve the intended results:
Will the government hit the target this time? At least it has
the power…