TO BEAT or LICK CREATION, verbal phr. (American).—To overpower; excel; surpass; to be incomparable. English variants are ‘to beat hollow, to sticks, or to fits,’ etc. Cf., BIG AS ALL OUTDOORS.
1848. BARTLETT, Dictionary of Americanisms, ‘Proverbs.’ When a man runs his head against a post, he curses the post first, ALL CREATION next, and something else last, and never thinks of cursing himself.
1862. Among the Mermaids. ‘An Old Sailor’s Yarn,’ p. 86. The notion of finding the capting’s cask pleased me mightily cos I knowed it would TICKLE the old man LIKE ALL CREATION.
1888. Detroit Free Press, 14 Aug. I’m willin’ to take advice. BEATS ALL CREATION how I mistook, but I shan’t go agin yer words.
