taking a licking and keeping on ticking

A form of take a licking and keep on ticking — To be tough; to have endurance; to have the capacity to absorb stress or damage, but still be able to function.

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Meanings

verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of take a licking and keep on ticking
Cite this entry
APA

taking a licking and keeping on ticking. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taking%20a%20licking%20and%20keeping%20on%20ticking

MLA

“taking a licking and keeping on ticking.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taking%20a%20licking%20and%20keeping%20on%20ticking. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “taking a licking and keeping on ticking,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/taking%20a%20licking%20and%20keeping%20on%20ticking.

Source: taking a licking and keeping on ticking on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.