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

We don’t know if Dusty’s voice is noticeably hushed because of his recent tragedy, but as he tries to pick up the pieces, this lonesome cowboy drifts through his days, doing his best to pretend he’s holding up OK.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The accident shook him mentally and physically but he began to pick up the pieces this year.

Read more on Barron's

O'Neill, at incredibly short notice, answered the call to pick up the pieces.

Read more on BBC

"You've got to leave it all out there and pick up the pieces. Right there I just felt Roki wasn't as sharp and I felt right there Glas was a guy who had swing and miss stuff and I just wanted to bet on him."

Read more on Barron's

“Right now, we’re at elimination, and we’ve got to kind of wipe the slate clean and find a way to win Game 6 and pick up the pieces and see where we’re at,” said Dodger manager Dave Roberts.

Read more on Los Angeles Times