Meaning & use
beating the system
Last updated
“beating the system” is a form of “beat the system”.
Meaning
phraseidiominformalfigurative
Getting what you want by finding a clever way around official rules, without actually breaking them.
Grammar: Used as a continuous verb phrase; the base form is 'beat the system', and it often follows verbs like 'accuse someone of' or 'be good at'.
Patterns
- beating the system
- be good at beating the system
- accuse someone of beating the system
He found a legal loophole and ended up beating the system.
She was accused of beating the system by claiming benefits she did not deserve.
Some students think that beating the system is smarter than studying hard.
Common combinations
- be good at beating the system
- He's good at beating the system, so he always finds a way around the rules.
- accuse someone of beating the system
- The company was accused of beating the system by hiding its profits.
- a way of beating the system
- Paying in cash is a way of beating the system if you want to avoid bank fees.
- get away with beating the system
- They got away with beating the system for years before anyone noticed.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bending the rules
- This means slightly breaking or stretching the rules, while 'beating the system' suggests staying within the letter of the rules but defeating their purpose.
- working the system
- This is more neutral and often means using the system to your advantage; 'beating the system' sounds more like defeating it.
Opposites
Word family
- beat the system phrase
- The base form of the same expression, meaning to defeat the rules or bureaucracy.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'beating the system' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 1 correctly describes using a loophole to avoid the intended effect of a rule. Option 0 is wrong because paying taxes on time follows the system, not beats it. Option 2 is wrong because 'beating the system' has nothing to do with being tired. Option 3 is wrong because going to bed early is not about circumventing rules.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “beating the system”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.