take one's lumps
idiom
US, informal
: to be badly beaten or hurt
He took his lumps as a kid growing up in the city.
—usually used figurativelyTheir first album took its lumps from the critics.
The team has taken its lumps this year, but their play has improved recently.
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Cite this Entry
“Take one's lumps.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20one%27s%20lumps. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
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