苦く汁じゅうをなめる

expression, ichidan verb

have a bitter experience; taste the bitterness of life

Idiomatic expression meaning to go through a painful or humiliating experience, often involving failure or hardship. Literally 'to lick bitter juice'.

• 若わかい頃ころに苦く汁じゅうをなめた経けい験けんが、今いまの彼かれを強つよくした。

  The bitter experiences he went through when he was young made him stronger today.

• 新しん規き事じ業ぎょうは失しっ敗ぱいし、社しゃ長ちょうは苦く汁じゅうをなめた。

  The new business venture failed, and the president had a bitter experience.