Live and Learn Idiom Meaning Meaning, Example, Synonyms

The Idiom Live and Learn meaning is that you learn from your mistakes and then grow.

It is typically used in a situation where someone is not aware of something until he/she observes its consequences. It is an encouragement to learn through one’s own experience, commonly used to convey a moral lesson following adversity. Experience can teach you a lot. 

George Gascoigne first said this idiom in the play Glass of Government in the sixteenth century, and it has been repeated several times and in numerous languages since then.

Live and Learn Idiom Usage with example

A few examples of this phrase are:

• I had no idea it works automatically. Oh well, you live and learn!
• I thought I could trust him with my secrets, but she betrayed me. Oh well, you live and learn.
• Ritika got those pants at a very cheap price and the quality is very bad Live and Learn.
• We thought the food would be good in the nearby restaurant but it turned out to be too bad to eat. We live and learn.

Also Read: 150 Common: Difficult Idioms with Examples

Live and Learn Synonyms

Synonyms for the idiom Live and Learn are:

• Learn from experience
• Learning never stops
• Profit from experience
• Acknowledge a new experience
• Don’t give up

Also Read: Useful Idioms for IELTS Exams That Will Boost Your Score

Live and Learn Idiom Quiz

1. What does the idiom “live and learn” mean?
a) To teach someone a lesson
b) To gain knowledge through experiences, especially mistakes
c) To avoid making mistakes
d) To study throughout life

2. Which of the following best uses the idiom “live and learn”?
a) I stayed up all night studying.
b) I wore the wrong shoes for hiking, but live and learn.
c) I love to live near a library.
d) She learns better when she lives alone.

3. Where is the idiom “live and learn” believed to have originated?
a) Ancient Greece
b) Medieval French literature
c) 16th century England
d) 20th century America

4. What tone does the idiom usually carry?
a) Sarcastic
b) Angry
c) Reflective or resigned
d) Joyful

5. Which situation might cause someone to say “live and learn”?
a) Getting a promotion
b) Baking a cake successfully
c) Missing a bus due to not checking the schedule
d) Winning a lottery

6. What part of speech is the phrase “live and learn”?
a) Noun
b) Verb
c) Adjective
d) Idiomatic expression

7. Which of these sentences is not a correct usage of “live and learn”?
a) I forgot my umbrella, and now I’m drenched—live and learn.
b) I live and learn to be a doctor.
c) That investment didn’t go well, but live and learn.
d) I paid extra for express shipping but it arrived late—live and learn.

8. What is the implied message when someone says “live and learn”?
a) They regret the mistake deeply
b) They are angry with someone else
c) They acknowledge a mistake and plan to avoid it in the future
d) They are ready to give up

9. Which popular saying is closest in meaning to “live and learn”?
a) Time heals all wounds
b) Better late than never
c) You learn something new every day
d) A penny saved is a penny earned

10. Which of the following is the correct spelling of the idiom?
a) Live & Learn
b) Live and learnt
c) Live and learn
d) Live then learn

Answer Key:

1. b
2. b
3. c
4. c
5. c
6. d
7. b
8. c
9. c
10. c

Also Read: Call it a Day meaning, example and synonyms

Check other idioms here:

Idioms for Busy	Idioms for Stress
Bolt from the Blue	Out of the Blue
If Wishes Were Horses, Beggars Might Ride	One Swallow Does Not Make A Summer
Not a Spark of Decency	Under His Thumb
Bring to Book	Spill the Beans

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