chalk something up to experience

present singular third person chalks something up to experience · participle present chalking something up to experience · participle past chalked something up to experience · past chalked something up to experience

1. idiomaticTo take a lesson from a bad outcome instead of grieving it.

   When I am scammed, I take my lumps and chalk it up to experience. I then use all my resources and skills to destroy those involved in committing the scam.

   2009 December 7, Michael Anthony, Memoirs of a White Man, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN, page 71

   2 more examples

   However, if the amounts are small and you've exhausted your personal resources, you can chalk it up to experience and write it off at the end of the year. (I did this on several small checks returned for insufficient funds.)

   1990, Michele Loftus, How to Start and Operate a Home-based Word Processing Or Desktop Publishing Business, Adams Media Corporation, →ISBN

   'Take them to court – or just chalk it up to experience.' 'Don't suppose for a moment that Kodomo would adopt the same attitude. He brought you all the way out here to do something for him. Whatever it is, he'll expect you to deliver.

   2012 November 30, Derek Wilson, The Triarchs, Hachette UK, →ISBN

   Synonyms: put something down to experience

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see chalk up to, experience.