have been in the wars
idiomPart ofwar
have been in the wars — idiom
1. to look injured, damaged, or in a bad condition, often in a slightly humorous wa
1.idiom
Definition
to look injured, damaged, or in a bad condition, often in a slightly humorous way
Example
Justin came home with a black eye and torn trousers; he looked like he had been in the wars.
The old teddy bear had lost an arm and one eye — it had clearly been in the wars.