# dine on ashes

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/dine-on-ashes
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To mope over past defeats or failures.

## Examples

- Stop dining on ashes and look toward the future.
- He spent years dining on ashes after his business failed instead of starting something new.
- Rather than dining on ashes over his lost political career, he chose to write a book about his experiences.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.