The term 'BARELY BEAT' can be broken down into seven crossword solutions: EDGED (5 letters), NIP (3 letters), EDGE (4 letters), NOSE (4 letters), EDGEOUT (7 letters), NOSEOUT (7 letters), and EDGEDOUT (8 letters). EDGED means to have a sharp border, while NIP means to pinch or bite. EDGE is a line where two surfaces meet, and NOSE is the part of the face that sticks out. EDGEOUT is to win by a small margin, and NOSEOUT is to win by a very small margin. EDGEDOUT is to win by an even smaller margin than NOSEOUT. All of these terms refer to winning by a very slim margin.