worse for wear
In poor physical condition due to long or heavy use.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“My shoes look worse for wear after the hike.”
“The old sofa was worse for wear after years of kids jumping on it.”
“The family car, once a gleaming source of pride, sat in the driveway worse for wear, its paint faded and bumper dented from a decade of road trips and winters.”
- 01
does the Pope wear a funny hat
Obviously! Rhetorical question in response to a question where the answer is an emphatic yes.
- 02
if the shoe fits, wear it
If a description fits, it is probably the case; if an insult accurately describes you, you must bear it; if you take offence at an insult that was only implicitly directed at you, you admit the insult is true enough to be recognizable.
- 03
make matters worse
To worsen an already difficult situation or unfavourable set of circumstances, typically by acting rashly, foolishly, or incompetently.
- 04
one's bark is worse than one's bite
One acts in a threatening way but is relatively harmless.
- 05
take a turn for the worse
To start to become worse; to worsen.
- 06
wear one's heart on one's sleeve
To be very transparent, open, or forthright about one's emotions.
- 07
wear out one's welcome
To behave in an offensive, burdensome, or tiresome manner, with the result that one's continued presence is unwanted within a residence, commercial establishment, or social group.
- 08
wear rose-colored glasses
To see the positive in things while being oblivious to the negative.
Last updated August 10, 2026