pick up the pieces

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Example

“After the flood, neighbors helped one another pick up the pieces.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

easier said than done Neutral · CEFR B1

Something that sounds simple to do but is actually hard.

hang in there Informal · CEFR B1

to persevere and not give up despite difficulty

in a tight spot Informal · CEFR B1

in a difficult or dangerous situation

in hot water Informal · CEFR B1

In trouble or facing difficulty.

in the same boat Informal · CEFR B1

in the same difficult situation as other people

add insult to injury Neutral · CEFR B2

make an already bad situation worse by adding humiliation or further harm

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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