Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

lick one's wounds

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.53 in modern English

Syllables: lick- one's -wounds
IPA

24

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

3

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To withdraw temporarily while recovering from a defeat; to recuperate.

Example Sentences

"Prevented by internal and external influences, this ideal of placing the sovereignty in the hands of the people was not carried out immediately after the establishment of the Republic of China. With the changes of time, particularly with the relocation of the ROC government to Taiwan, we have gradually carried it out at last, but only after having licked our wounds and built our strength for forty years."
"If the ball was out of play, someone in blue would dash to get it back. This was not a side licking its wounds from the humbling of Anfield or Saturday’s ordeal against Manchester United. It was the best team in England with adrenaline running through their veins, playing as if they believed anything was achievable."

Inflected Forms

licks one's wounds (present, singular) licking one's wounds (participle, present) licked one's wounds (participle, past) licked one's wounds (past)

Questions

What does lick one's wounds mean?: To withdraw temporarily while recovering from a defeat; to recuperate.

How to pronounce lick one's wounds

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