Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. a fight.

1895

Mirror of Life 12 Oct. 14/1: Once on a time Caster had a beat-up with Ted Wilson, after which, we believe, he wished to treat Coal-heaver Ted with a small bottle.

2. (Aus.) an outrage; a highly negative criticism.

1992		R.G. Barrett White Shoes 94: The rest was a beat-up of how she was a rotten singer, model and actress all round.
1993		T. Winton Lockie Leonard: Scumbuster (1995) 118: ‘This [a demonstration] is a complete beat-up!’ shouted Mr Pustling at the cameras. ‘These people are the kind we should be very wary of. They frighten people for the sake of it.’.
1998		R.G. Barrett Goodoo Goodoo 57: There was a bit more beat-up about the incident.
2006		B. Matthews Intractable [ebook] [A]a sensationalised media beat-up at its best.