live down
To cause others to forget about something embarrassing that happened to oneself.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I hope I can live down that embarrassing mistake.”
“He tripped on stage during the graduation ceremony and worried he would never live it down.”
“Despite his many professional achievements, he struggled to live down the public scandal that had tarnished his reputation early in his career.”
- 01
die the way one lived
To die because of or after doing something characteristic of oneself, especially something that one enjoyed doing.
- 02
live a lie
To conceal something about oneself, without the knowledge of which others cannot know one's true character or perspective.
- 03
live and die by
Be completely reliant upon.
- 04
live and let live
To be tolerant; to enjoy the pleasures and opportunities which life offers and to allow others to do the same.
- 05
live beyond one's means
Have a lifestyle where one's spending regularly exceeds one's income.
- 06
live in sin
To cohabit as if husband and wife without being married.
- 07
live in the past
To dwell on and ruminate about past events.
- 08
live in the shadow of
To be overshadowed one's entire life, especially by a relative or predecessor.
Last updated August 10, 2026