Expresiones con verbos claves - Verbo "to beat"

Andrew, stop beating around the bush and tell me what happened to Carl!

The next time he provokes me I'll beat him hollow!

Tyson beat his opponent to a pulp in the first round last night.

Mike's in hospital, a gang of hooligans beat him to within an inch of his lifeon Sunday.

Have you seen my purse? I've beaten the bushes for it but I can't find it!

The whole government has been beating the drum for the reform.

Most criminals beat the rap nowadays. It's terrible.

We must stop this war and beat swords into ploughshares for the benefit of our country.

I've been beating my brains out but I can't find a reasonable explanation for it!