take a licking

verb

To suffer a defeat or a beating.

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Meanings

verbtake a licking (third-person singular simple present takes a licking, present participle taking a licking, simple past took a licking, past participle taken a licking)

present singular third person takes a licking · participle present taking a licking · past took a licking · participle past taken a licking

  1. slangTo suffer a defeat or a beating.
Cite this entry
APA

take a licking. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20a%20licking

MLA

“take a licking.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20a%20licking. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “take a licking,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/take%20a%20licking.

Source: take a licking on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.