stew in one's juices

present singular third person stews in one's juices · participle present stewing in one's juices · participle past stewed in one's juices · past stewed in one's juices · alternative stew in one's own juice · alternative stew in one's own juices

1. idiomaticTo be alone and self-absorbed in an uncomfortable state of mind, especially while experiencing the unpleasant effects of one's own actions.

   "Nothin' like mystery to keep that rotten little camp up on its toes," he muttered. "I'll just leave that mess to stew in its own juices for a while."

   1914, Peter B. Kyne, chapter 16, in The Long Chance

   2 more examples

   [H]e had come to deliver young Kiner to the police station. There, he said, he was left to stew in his juices for an hour, during which he conjured visions of cruel and inhuman punishment.

   1987 June 15, Joe Gergen, “Casey still striking out”, in The Sporting News, retrieved 21 Jun 2009

   Unable to run around a field or court, "these golfers are stewing in their juices," he said. '"They have nowhere to go but think about what might happen," he added.

   2007 June 12, Damon Hack, “Golf: Pressure and Stress of Waiting”, in New York Times, retrieved 21 Jun 2009

   Synonyms: fret, fume, mope, stew in one's own broth, stew in one's own gravy, stew in one's own grease