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lick wounds |
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lick one's wounds
Fig. to recover from a defeat or a rebuke. (Also literal for an animal.) After the terrible meeting and all the criticism, I went back to my office to lick my wounds. lick your wounds to feel unhappy after a defeat or an unpleasant experience See kiss arse, knock into shapeUsage notes: When dogs and other animals are injured, they lick their wounds (= injuries) in order to help them get better. After retiring to lick its wounds, the party is regaining its confidence. lick your wounds to avoid or ignore other people after an unpleasant experience Mary's film career was a failure, and she went home to lick her wounds in private. Etymology: based on the idea of an injured animal that licks its wounds (cleans an injury with its tongue) Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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