English-grammar-lessons.co.uk

menu

Take a Licking and Keep on Ticking

What Does "Take a Licking and Keep on Ticking" Mean?

homeidiomsTake a Licking and Keep on Ticking
"Take a licking and keep on ticking" is an English idiom. It means "to endure difficulties, setbacks, or hardships and continue to function or persevere."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "take a licking and keep on ticking" used in a sentence:
  • Despite facing numerous challenges, the small business has taken a licking and kept on ticking.
  • The athlete's determination allowed him to take a licking and keep on ticking, even after a series of injuries.
  • Taking a licking and keeping on ticking is a testament to resilience and unwavering commitment.
meaning for take a licking and keep on ticking

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 "Take a Licking and Keep on Ticking" 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.

A Quick Test

You now know what "take a licking and keep on ticking" means, but are you good at English idioms? Let's see!
gold cup
Gold

gold cup
Silver

gold cup
Bronze

  • This test has questions.
  • A correct answer is worth 5 points.
  • You can get up to 5 bonus points for a speedy answer.
  • Some questions demand more than one answer. You must get every part right.
  • Beware! Wrong answers score 0 points.
  • 🏆 If you beat one of the top 3 scores, you will be invited to apply for the Hall of Fame.
Scoring System

Guru (+)
Hero (+)
Captain (+)
Sergeant (+)
Recruit (+)
Help Us To Improve English Grammar Lessons
  • Do you disagree with something on this page?
  • Did you spot a typo?
Please tell us using this form.
Do you know your English idioms? idioms test

Take Our Test.

search icon

Search our idioms database. (We have 10,000+ idioms!)