pick up the pieces
idiom
: to try to make a situation better after something bad has happened
After her business went bankrupt, she picked up the pieces and started again.
Examples of pick up the pieces in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Told through the families of Shamony Gibson and Amber Rose Issac, two young women who died due to childbirth complications, Aftershock explores some damning statistics in our healthcare system, centers on the families left to pick up the pieces, and demands a call to action.
—
Aramide Tinubu, Essence, 18 July 2022
She was left to pick up the pieces of her shattered family.
—Dallas News, 28 Feb. 2022
The four went off into different corners as their managers and record company tried to pick up the pieces.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2022
Barry Chin/Globe Staff In Saugus, Stephanie Gerardi’s sisters are still trying to pick up the pieces following her death.
—Laura Crimaldi, BostonGlobe.com, 3 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for pick up the pieces
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Aramide Tinubu, Essence, 18 July 2022
She was left to pick up the pieces of her shattered family.
—Dallas News, 28 Feb. 2022
The four went off into different corners as their managers and record company tried to pick up the pieces.
—David Browne, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2022
Barry Chin/Globe Staff In Saugus, Stephanie Gerardi’s sisters are still trying to pick up the pieces following her death.
—Laura Crimaldi, BostonGlobe.com, 3 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for pick up the pieces
Cite this Entry
“Pick up the pieces.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pick%20up%20the%20pieces. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share