I’ve been beating my brains out all week trying to finish this essay.

【beat】我整个星期都在搜肠刮肚，想写完这篇文章。

Arter I was locked up for the night, the row and din outside made the thundering old jail so silent, that I could almost have beat my brains out against the iron plates of the door.

阿特尔我被关了一夜，外面的吵闹声和嘈杂声让雷鸣般的老监狱变得寂静无声，我几乎要把脑袋撞在门的铁板上。