C1idiomhealthIELTS-friendly
lick your wounds
USUK
to rest and recover in private after a defeat or a painful experience
Used for emotional or professional hurt more than for injuries. Always plural: 'wounds'.
In context
After losing the final, the team went home to lick their wounds.
He spent the weekend licking his wounds after his boss rejected the plan.
Common mistake
Incorrect: lick his wound
Correct: lick his wounds
More idioms about health
- a clean bill of healtha doctor's statement, after an examination, that someone is healthy
- a new lease of lifenew energy, or a chance to be active or useful again
- a ripe old agea very old age, reached in good health
- a second windnew energy that lets you continue after you felt too tired
- a shadow of your former selfmuch weaker, thinner or less impressive than before