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Glite Dictionary
to be in the wars

to be in the wars

3 9.3
Have many cuts and bruises or feel emotionally worn
  • idiom
  • UK
translation icon : haber pasado por muchas dificultades
  • After facing numerous challenges in his life, he felt like he had been in the wars for years.

Examples

  • This one's been in the wars.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • You've been in the wars a bit, haven't you, Frank?

    Narcopolis (2015)

  • You've been in the wars, huh?

    The Guard (2011)

  • "Hell, you've been in the wars, haven't you?" Stan said, turning back to his leeks.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • She definitely has been in the wars; her experiences have shaped her into a strong person.

  • Whenever we talk about our struggles, I remind her that she has been in the wars and come out stronger.

Synonyms

battle-scarred
vsto be in the wars
2 6.0

Damaged by war or long hardship, often with visible marks

is broader and covers many kinds of hardship not only conflict
war-torn
vsto be in the wars
1 7.0

People deeply hurt emotionally because of war

is broader and includes physical injuries and other nonemotional problems
war-worn
vsto be in the wars
8.5

Damaged and tired after long years of war

is broader and covers many kinds of hardship beyond long exposure

Antonyms

unscathed
33 6.3

Not hurt or damaged after a bad event

thriving
6 3.8

Growing and very successful, like a busy café or arts scene

How Injured

wounded
6 2.8
battered
  • NSFW
1 4.6
to be in the wars
  • UK
3 9.3
injured
30 1.0
bruise
266 1.6
unhurt
7 1.0

Surface Forms

be in the wars infinitive
was in the wars past
been in the wars past participle
being in the wars present participle
is in the wars third person singular

Morphology

be + in + the + war

The noun 'war(s)' evokes suffering or damage, so a learner who knows the constituents could infer a general idea of hardship; however the idiomatic British expression 'be in the wars' specifically means to look battered or to have suffered knocks/troubles, which is a metaphorical, colloquial extension not fully predictable from literal meanings. Because the precise sense and usage are regionally idiomatic and require prior exposure for full comprehension, it is best classified as partially transparent.

Etymology

Be in the wars comes from the picture of people who had been in real fighting, like soldiers or fighters who returned from the wars with cuts, bruises and torn clothes. So today, saying someone 'has been in the wars' means they look beaten, hurt, or like they have had many problems.