Beat-up

Full definition of beat-up

Adjective

1. (chiefly of an object) Worn out by overuse; in a state of disrepair

Noun

1. (Australia, British, New Zealand) An artificially or disingenuously manufactured outcry, usually in the media.
• 2009, Natasha Robinson, 'James Packer book outrage a beat-up, says Paul Barry', The Australian, Business section“It has been suggested that this is a vicious book, a poisonous book, that it's a disgrace to have written it,” Mr Barry said at today's book launch. “That's a total beat-up."
• 2009, Michael Cook, 'Is Britain’s stem cell crisis a beat-up?', BioEdgeFew areas of science journalism are more susceptible to frothy beat-ups than stem cell research.

Anagrams

• up-beat, upbeat