live and learn

phrase

informal
used to say that one has learned something from an experience that is surprising and usually unpleasant
I thought I could trust him, but I couldn't. Oh well, live and learn.

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Cite this Entry

“Live and learn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/live%20and%20learn. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

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