have been in the wars

verb

To have been seriously hurt, or greatly damaged.

“I can see that battered old hat of yours has been in the wars.”

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Meanings

verbhave been in the wars (third-person singular simple present has been in the wars, present participle having been in the wars, simple past and past participle had been in the wars)

present singular third person has been in the wars · participle present having been in the wars · participle past had been in the wars · past had been in the wars

  1. AustraliaUKhumorousTo have been seriously hurt, or greatly damaged.

    I can see that battered old hat of yours has been in the wars.

Cite this entry
APA

have been in the wars. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20been%20in%20the%20wars

MLA

“have been in the wars.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20been%20in%20the%20wars. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “have been in the wars,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/have%20been%20in%20the%20wars.

Source: have been in the wars on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.