student asking question

I assume the word "defeat" means "unlock" in this context. But, can I say "defeat" even though it doesn't refer to anything competitive?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Yes, your guess is correct here. My guess is that the speaker has used "defeat" here to add humor and emphasis, but this is not a typical use of the verb "defeat." In most circumstances, it is used to refer to the act of winning against or beating someone or something. Ex: I defeated my brother at arm wrestling. Ex: The underdog defeated the defending champion in the finals.

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