beat back
To force a person or thing to retreat. How are we going to beat back the approaching troops? Beating back feelings of fear has allowed me to follow my dreams.
beat someone or something back
to drive someone or something back to where it came from. We beat them back to where they were before the war started. The army beat back the defenders and saved the town. They were able to beat the wolves back and make an escape.
beat back
Force to retreat or withdraw, as in His findings beat back all their arguments to the contrary. This phrase was often used in a military context (and still is), as in Their armies were beaten back. [Late 1500s]