live it down

USAGE SUMMARY

"live it down" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is often used in spoken English as well. It means to overcome or move past a situation or mistake that caused embarrassment or shame. Example: After his embarrassing performance at the talent show, it will be difficult for him to live it down in front of his classmates.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

It's about his life as an uber-educated decent Wasp trying to be normal, forever living up to his family tradition, trying to live it down, dealing with its truths and evasions, its troubled place in present.

Forbes

I'd never live it down.

The Guardian

Given time they could probably live it down.

The Guardian - Sport

"He will never live it down," she said.

The Guardian

"It's bizarre; I don't think he's ever going to live it down," Mr. Robinson said.

The New York Times

Emily was caught too & it took her a long time to live it down.

The New Yorker

Forrest smiles, but doesn't deny that he would never have let Hachadourian live it down.

The New Yorker

We only did this perhaps four times, but I'll never live it down.

The New York Times - Science

"I'll never live it down that I asked for a one-to-two match.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The only way I've lived it down is by living, really.

The Guardian

I am still living it down.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context when using "live it down", as it implies a social or personal impact beyond simple regret.

Common error

Don't assume that simply apologizing will allow someone to "live it down". The phrase implies that the event will continue to be a topic of discussion or remembrance, despite efforts to move past it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "live it down" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. It expresses the difficulty or impossibility of escaping the negative consequences of a past action, mistake, or embarrassing event. The Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Wiki

1%

Academia

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "live it down" is a very common idiomatic expression used to describe the difficulty of overcoming a mistake or embarrassing event. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in News & Media. While alternatives exist, they often carry slightly different nuances. When using "live it down", consider the social impact of the event and remember it implies consequences beyond simple regret. Avoid assuming that an apology will automatically allow someone to "live it down". Overall, its meaning is about how some mistakes have repercussions that can affect someone for an extended period of time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get over it

A more direct and informal way to say someone should move past something.

move on from it

Focuses on the act of progressing beyond a difficult situation or mistake.

put it behind you

Suggests leaving the past event in the past, both emotionally and mentally.

recover from it

Implies a process of healing or becoming stronger after a negative experience.

bounce back from it

Emphasizes resilience and a quick return to a normal state.

make amends for it

Focuses on repairing the damage caused by a mistake or wrongdoing.

redeem yourself

Implies a need to restore one's reputation or standing after a failure.

atone for it

A more formal and often religious term for making amends for a sin or mistake.

outgrow it

Suggests that with time and maturity, the significance of the event will diminish.

forget about it

A casual way of saying something is not important and should be disregarded.

FAQs

How can I use "live it down" in a sentence?

You can use "live it down" to describe a situation that is difficult to forget or be forgiven for, such as "He made a terrible mistake, and he'll never "live it down"".

What does it mean to "live something down"?

To "live something down" means to overcome the shame or embarrassment caused by a mistake or negative event. It suggests a process of time and effort to be accepted again.

What are some alternatives to saying "live it down"?

Alternatives include "get over it", "move on from it", or "put it behind you", each with slightly different nuances in meaning.

Is "live it down" a formal or informal expression?

"Live it down" is generally considered an informal expression, suitable for everyday conversation and writing. More formal contexts might require a more sophisticated phrasing like "recovering from the setback".