bruise

battered and bruised

1. Having many minor injuries, as from a physical assault or altercation. He drank too much at the bar, got into a fight, and showed up at our door all battered and bruised. It's the playoffs—everyone is battered and bruised at this time of year. A: "How are they? I heard they were in a car accident." B: "They're OK, thank goodness, just a bit battered and bruised."
2. Thoroughly worn down or exhausted, as from an exhausting or trying experience. The home team, though battered and bruised, emerged victorious from the tough match. The prosecutors went after us relentlessly during the trial, and we felt battered and bruised by the end of the it. I think our entire society is battered and bruised after an election cycle.
See also: and, batter, bruise

be cruising for a bruising

slang To be acting in a way that is likely to result in punishment or harm. Often shortened colloquially as "cruisin' for a bruisin'." Oh, you're going to be cruising for a bruising if you keep talking to me like that! Did you hear the way he insulted the boss during our meeting? He's really cruising for a bruising, don't you think? Dude, you're crusin' for a brusin'—that girl you're flirting with is dating the captain of the football team!
See also: bruise, cruise, for

bruise (one's) ego

To wound one's pride. I just worry that if she finds out she didn't get that promotion, it will really bruise her ego. Yeah, getting rejected by that beautiful woman bruised my ego a bit, but I'm no worse for wear. Let's order another round, fellas! It's impressive how no rejection or setback seems to bruise Jason's ego.
See also: bruise, ego

bruise up

1. To cause someone or something (such as a piece of fruit) to become covered in bruises. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bruise" and "up." Don't just shove the bananas into the grocery bag like that. You'll bruise them up! A: "I heard you had an accident on the way to work! Are you OK?" B: "I got bruised up a bit, but I'm fine." He wants to become a brother of the blade, but he's not very strong, and his reflexes are terribly slow.
2. To become bruised. My arm bruised up on the spot where the nurse had given me the injection. My mosquito bites always seem to bruise up, whether I scratch them or not. I just knew my leg was going to bruise up after I hit it hard on the side of the cabinet.
3. To have a tendency to become bruised very easily. I bruise up like crazy whenever I roughhouse or play full-contact sports. My grandma has pale, almost translucent skin that pretty much bruises up if you look at it for too long. Edward has a blood disorder—that's why he bruises up so easily.
4. To negatively affect someone at an emotional or psychological level, especially their ego or pride. A noun or pronoun can be used between "bruise" and "up." It bruised my ego up a bit to admit that I had been wrong. Yeah, getting rejected by that beautiful woman bruised my self-confidence a bit, but I'm no worse for wear. Let's order another round, fellas! It's impressive how no rejection or setback seems to bruise Jason's pride.
See also: bruise, up

bruised and battered

1. Having many minor injuries, as from a physical assault or altercation. He drank too much at the bar, got into a fight, and showed up at our door all bruised and battered. It's the playoffs—everyone is bruised and battered at this time of year. A: "How are they? I heard they were in a car accident." B: "They're OK, thank goodness, just a bit bruised and battered."
2. Thoroughly worn down or exhausted, as from an exhausting or trying experience. The home team, though bruised and battered, emerged victorious from the tough match. The prosecutors went after us relentlessly during the trial, and we felt bruised and battered by the end of the it. I think our entire society is bruised and battered after an election cycle.
See also: and, batter, bruise

bruised ego

A mildly wounded sense of pride or self-esteem. He'll be fine. He's just got a bit of a bruised ego because he was passed over for the promotion. A: "You OK?" B: "Yeah, fine. Just a bruised ego is all—that random guy I was talking to rejected me." It's impressive how no rejection or setback seems to leave Jason with a bruised ego.
See also: bruise, ego

cruising for a bruising

slang Acting in a way that is likely to result in punishment or harm. Often shortened colloquially as "cruisin' for a bruisin'." Oh, you're cruising for a bruising if you keep talking to me like that! Did you hear the way he insulted the boss during our meeting? He's really cruisin' for a bruisin'. Dude, you're crusin' for a brusin'—that girl you're flirting with is dating the captain of the football team!
See also: bruise, cruise, for
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

cruising for a bruising

 and cruisin' for a bruisin'
Sl. asking for trouble. You are cruising for a bruising, you know that? Who's cruisin' for a bruisin'?
See also: bruise, cruise, for
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

cruising for a bruising

heading or looking for trouble. informal, chiefly North American
1998 Times The problem…is the unrealistic value of the Hong Kong dollar…it has been cruising for a bruising for most of last year.
See also: bruise, cruise, for
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

bruised

(bruzd)
mod. alcohol intoxicated. I am bruised. My head hurts, and my gut feels yucky.
See also: bruise

cruising for a bruising

and cruisin’ for a bruisin’
in. asking for trouble. You are cruising for a bruising, you know that?
See also: bruise, cruise, for
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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