live down

/ lɪv /

verb

1. (tr, adverb) to withstand the effects of (a crime, mistake, etc) by waiting until others forget or forgive it

Idioms and Phrases

Overcome or reduce the shame of a mistake, misdeed, or the like. It is often put in the negative, as in I'm afraid I'll never live down that tactless remark I made. [Mid-1800s]

Example Sentences

And it’s less common now for you to just knock on somebody’s door and say, “Hey, I live down the street. How are you?”

From Salon

Harris was intrigued enough to watch War of the Worlds, and it duly lived down to his expectations.

From BBC

So far, the Kennedy regime at HHS has lived down to the worst expectations of his critics.

From Los Angeles Times

“I would probably just try to live down and away and keep him in the park,” Scout A said.

From Los Angeles Times

It took Dole years to live down his image as a political hatchet man.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bear 
• endure 
• exist 
• get through 
• handle 
• keep 
• last 
• live 
• recover 
• remain 
• ride out 
• subsist 
• suffer 
• sustain 
• weather 
• withstand