lick one's wounds

Definitions

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

idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“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.”

CEFR level