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Anonymous Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary

"After a beat"

"After a beat, he stepped out onto the porch, closing the door
gently behind him.“

Does anyone know what "after a beat" mean in this sentence?
Thanks for your help.
  

Top answer

It is a cliché phrase often used in modern detective stories and similar fiction. It just means after a moment. Beat probably comes from heartbeat, although it would be more precise to say after a breath, because a heartbeat is very short.

— Elanguest

  • It is a cliché phrase often used in modern detective stories and similar fiction.
  • It just means after a moment.
  • Beat probably comes from heartbeat, although it would be more precise to say after a breath, because a heartbeat is very short.
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2 Answers
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It is a cliché phrase often used in modern detective stories and similar fiction. It just means after a moment. Beat probably comes from heartbeat, although it would be more precise to say after a breath, because a heartbeat is very short.
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Not that it matters much, but I've always thought it was a drumbeat, like his life was a jazz tune.
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