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live and learn

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live and learn

Cliché to increase one's knowledge by experience. (Usually said when one is surprised to learn something.) I didn't know that snakes could swim. Well, live and learn! John didn't know he should water his house-plants a little extra in the dry winter months. When they all died, he said, "Live and learn."

See also: and, learn, live

live and learn

Profit from experience, as in I ignored the garden book, planted my beans in March, and they all rotted-live and learn . [Second half of 1500s]

See also: and, learn, live