live down
Third Person
lives down
Present Participle
living down
Past Tense
lived down
Past Participle
lived down
1
to move past a negative reputation, embarrassing situation, or mistake by demonstrating better behavior over time
- After the scandal, the politician worked hard to rebuild his reputation and live down the controversy.
- She regretted saying those hurtful words, but she hoped that with time she could live them down and repair her relationship with her friend.
- The family was determined to live down the shame of their past mistakes.
- The company worked hard to live down its reputation for poor customer service.
- The individual sought to live down their criminal record by pursuing a life of law-abiding citizenship.
Synonyms: