The idiom "beat someone to the draw" means to do something before someone else does it. It is often used in situations where there is competition or a race to accomplish something.
For example, imagine two people are applying for the same job. If one person submits their application before the other, they have "beat them to the draw." Similarly, if two people are playing a game and one person makes a move before the other, they have "beat them to the draw."
The phrase comes from the world of gunfighting, where the person who drew their gun first had an advantage. However, it is now used more generally to describe any situation where someone acts quickly and gets ahead of someone else.
So, if you want to use this idiom, you could say something like, "I wanted to buy that concert ticket, but my friend beat me to the draw and got it first." Or, "I was going to suggest we go to the beach this weekend, but my sister beat me to the draw and suggested it first."
• The company was about to launch a new product, but their competitor beat them to the draw by releasing a similar product first.
• I had been planning to ask my boss for a raise, but my colleague beat me to the draw and asked before me.
• I was going to tell my friend about my new job, but she beat me to the draw and told me about her promotion first.
• The journalist was planning to break the news about the scandal, but another outlet beat them to the draw and published the story first.
• The scientists were racing to discover a cure for the disease, but one research team beat them to the draw and published their findings first.
• I wanted to offer her a cookie, but she beat me to the draw and took one first.