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Chalk Something up to Experience

What Does "Chalk Something up to Experience" Mean?

homeidiomsChalk Something up to Experience
"Chalk something up to experience" is an English idiom. It means "to consider a failure or bad situation as a learning experience."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "chalk something up to experience" used in a sentence:
  • Don't be disheartened by the rejection. Just chalk it up to experience and try again.
  • I chalked up my failed business to experience and moved on.
  • Sometimes, you just have to chalk such things up to experience.
meaning for chalk something up to experience

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Chalk Something up to Experience" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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