pick up the pieces

1. Redeem a bad situation, restore matters to normal, as in Once fighting ended, the task force picked up the pieces and restored democracy. [Late 1800s]

Example Sentences

Clever as they are, both parties make it out of a tight spot just fine, but it’s Bob who’s left to pick up the pieces.

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Sophia’s father is self-medicating after the death of her mother some years before, leaving her to pick up the pieces.

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But in Pahalgam, time seems to have slowed down and the residents are trying to pick up the pieces and move on.

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The president has repeatedly floated the idea of terminating federal disaster relief altogether and leaving states to pick up the pieces after hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires.

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"We all know what's best for patients. But if we're constantly trying to pick up the pieces, we can't do that quality job that we need to that will save the NHS in the long run."

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