lump (redirected from taking lumps)

*lump in one's throat

the feeling of something in one's throat -- as if one were going to cry. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give one ~.) Whenever they play the national anthem, I get a lump in my throat. I have a lump in my throat because I'm frightened.

See also: throat

get one's lumps

Inf. to get the result or punishment one deserves. (See also take one's lumps.) If she keeps acting that way, she'll get her lumps. We will see that Dave gets his lumps.

See also: get

If you don't like it, (you can) lump it.

Prov. Things cannot be changed to suit your preferences. We're having fish for dinner tonight. And if you don't like it, you can lump it. We're going to go visit Aunt Sally this weekend. If you don't like it, lump it.

See also: if, like

Like it or lump it!

Inf. There is no other choice. Take that or none. John: I don't like this room. It's too small. Bill: Like it or lump it. That's all we've got. Jane: I don't want to be talked to like that. Sue: Well, like it or lump it! That's the way we talk around here.

See also: like

lump someone and someone else together and lump something and something else together

to classify people or things as members of the same category. You just can't lump Bill and Ted together. They are totally different kinds of people. I tend to lump apples and oranges together.

See also: and, else, together

Lump it!

Inf. Forget it!; Go away! Well, you can just lump it! Lump it! Drop dead!

take one's lumps

Inf. to accept the result or punishment one deserves. (See also get one's lumps.) You've got to learn to take your lumps if you're going to be in politics. I hate taking my lumps. I'd rather pretend nothing had happened.

See also: take

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bring a lump to your throat

if something someone says or does brings a lump to your throat, it makes you feel such strong emotions that you want to cry I thought it was a very moving speech. It almost brought a lump to my throat.

See also: bring, throat

like it or lump it  (informal)

if you tell someone to like it or lump it, you mean they must accept a situation they do not like, because they cannot change it The fact remains, that's all we're going to pay him and he can like it or lump it. Like it or lump it, romantic fiction is read regularly by thousands.

See be of like mind

See also: like

take your lumps  (American)

to receive and accept criticism or punishment for something you have done Joe blames nobody but himself for his problems. He takes his lumps and doesn't complain.

See also: take

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a lump in your throat

a strong feeling of emotion that makes speaking difficult He still couldn't watch the video without getting a lump in his throat, and he wasn't the only one.

See also: throat

take your lumps

to experience and accept difficulties as part of doing something When unemployment increased, the Midwest took its lumps earlier than the East, but recovered faster.

Etymology: based on the idea of a fighter being able to take lumps (accept swelling in parts of the body)

See also: take