beat the crowds

Meaning

This expression means to arrive at a place or do an activity before a large number of other people get there. It is used when trying to avoid long lines, busy tourist spots, or heavy traffic by planning ahead or going early.

Examples

• We woke up at 6 AM to beat the crowds at the museum.

  We woke up at 6 AM to beat the crowds at the museum.

• If we leave for the beach now, we might beat the crowds.

  If we leave for the beach now, we might beat the crowds.

• Visiting popular tourist destinations in the off-season is a great way to beat the crowds.

  Visiting popular tourist destinations in the off-season is a great way to beat the crowds.

• I like to do my grocery shopping late at night to beat the crowds.

  I like to do my grocery shopping late at night to beat the crowds.

• They decided to travel mid-week to beat the crowds at the airport.

  They decided to travel mid-week to beat the crowds at the airport.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We went early to win the crowds.

  ✓ We went early to beat the crowds.

  'Beat' is the standard verb used in this idiom; 'win' is incorrect in this context.

• ✗ I want to beat the crowd of the museum.

  ✓ I want to beat the crowds at the museum.

  'Crowds' is usually plural in this expression, and we use the preposition 'at' to specify the location.

Related Expressions

Practice

• We should head to the theme park early to ___.

  💡 Avoid the large groups of people.

  Show answer

  beat the crowds

• Traveling in October is the best way to ___ at the historical sites.

  💡 Skip the tourist rushes.

  Show answer

  beat the crowds