sich die Wunden lecken: meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  Standard GermanneutralMachine
  • To lick one's wounds (literal action of tending a physical wound by licking).

  Examples

  Beta

  • Nach dem Unfall musste der Hund sich die Wunden lecken, bevor er wieder spielen konnte.

    After the accident, the dog had to lick its wounds before it could play again.

• 2.

  GermanyAustrian GermanSwiss GermanneutralMachine
  • To recover privately from a defeat, setback, or humiliation; to nurse one's injuries until one is ready to resume activity.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Die Firma muss sich die Wunden lecken, bevor sie einen neuen Geschäftsplan vorlegt.

    The company has to recover from its setback before presenting a new business plan.