How to Pronounce "lick your wounds"
expression
LIK yor WOONDZ or LIK yoor WOONDZ
LIK yaw WOONDZ
Definition
To spend time recovering after a disappointment, defeat, or failure, often in private. The phrase comes from how animals clean their wounds to heal.
IPA Transcription
American English
ˈɫɪk/ /ˈjɔɹ/, /ˈjʊɹ/ /ˈwundz
British English
lˈɪk/ /jˈɔː/ /wˈuːndz
Simplified Pronunciation
US
LIK yor WOONDZ or LIK yoor WOONDZ
UK
LIK yaw WOONDZ
Listen in Context
After the game, the team needed time to lick their wounds.
She went home to lick her wounds after failing the exam.
Sometimes you just need to lick your wounds and try again.
He lost the promotion, so he's taking some time to lick his wounds before looking for new opportunities.