The act of intimidating or bullying someone by using angry looks, loud voice, or threatening behavior to make them do what you want.
From 'brow' (the forehead area showing emotion) combined with 'beat,' originating in the 1500s. The image is of someone using a frowning, threatening brow to dominate others, as if 'beating' them with fierce looks.
Medieval and Renaissance people believed your face literally showed your character and intentions—a furrowed brow was seen as actively dangerous! This word captures how humans instinctively read dominance through facial expressions, something we still feel today when someone gives us an angry glare.
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