on the rebound

Idioms  

1. Reacting to or recovering from an unhappy experience, especially the end of a love affair. For example, A month after breaking up with Larry, Jane got engaged to Bob, a classic case of being on the rebound. This metaphoric term, alluding to the bouncing back of a ball, has been used in the present sense since the mid-1800s, although rebound alone had been used figuratively for much longer.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

on the rebound

The first was a long-range shot by Álex Baena that hit the crossbar; on the rebound, Yamal fired the ball straight into the Austria goalkeeper’s body.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2026

A shot blocked, another shot saved, on the rebound - a goal.

From BBC ● May 14, 2026

IPO market is on the rebound after years of relative quiet, thanks in part to offerings related to artificial intelligence and defense.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026

Slovakia midfielder Lobotka smashed home on the rebound in the seventh minute in Naples, breaking a scoring duck which stretched back to the opening day of Napoli's triumphant 2022/23 season.

From Barron's ● Jan. 17, 2026

He managed to grab it on the rebound before it hit the floor.

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner