learned

Related to learned: learnt

learn (one's) lesson

To learn through painful experience not to do something, often something one had been warned about or knew might be risky. I told you that you'd feel awful if you drank that much wine. I hope you've learned your lesson. I certainly learned my lesson about buying something from a stranger online.
See also: learn, lesson

learn (something) by heart

To learn something very thoroughly; to memorize something. Ask Becky to recite the poem—she learned it by heart. You don't have to learn these principles by heart, we just want you to have a basic understanding of them.
See also: by, heart, learn

learn (something) down pat

To learn, master, or understand something perfectly, to the point of requiring little or no focus to do, recall, or accomplish it. I made sure to learn my speech down pat before the ceremony so I wouldn't spend the whole time looking down at piece of paper. My sister is such a musical prodigy that she can learn a song down pat after listening to it only once or twice.
See also: down, learn, pat

learn (something) from the bottom up

1. To learn or become knowledgeable about every or nearly every aspect of something, from the most mundane to the most nuanced. After working at this company for nearly 30 years, I've learned it from the bottom up. As the chief tax law specialist, it's my role to learn these new tax regulations from the bottom up.
2. To become knowledgeable about or skilled in something by beginning at the most basic level and then working one's way up to the more complicated or difficult aspects. I actually never had any sort of preternatural skill with mathematics—I had to learn it from the bottom up, just like most other students. I hard forgotten everything I knew about Japanese, so when I started studying it again in my 30s, I had to learn it from the bottom up all over again.
See also: bottom, learn, up

learn (something) the hard way

To learn or discover something through personal experience, especially that which is difficult, painful, or unpleasant. Starting your own business is really tough. I had to learn that the hard way. Everyone will tell you that becoming a parent is challenging, but you never really know what that means until you learn about it the hard way.
See also: hard, learn, way

learn a thing or two

To learn a bit more than one previously knew. You could learn a thing or two from Jeff—he's been with the company longer than anyone else. I'm hoping to learn a thing or two at this seminar about setting up my own business.
See also: learn, thing, two

learn about (someone or something)

1. To become knowledgeable or informed about someone or something. We learned about the rotation of the planets in science class today. The point of the game is for kids to learn about important historical figures in a fun, exciting way.
2. To discover or uncover some particular information about someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "learn" and "about. I learned something interesting about the way gravity works today. See if you can learn any dirty secrets about our opponent.
See also: learn

learn by

To become knowledgeable about or experienced in something through some activity or behavior. Learning by rote has been proven by many studies to be nearly useless in the long-term retention of information. You've got to learn by doing these things for yourself.
See also: by, learn

learn by rote

To use repetition to memorize something, as opposed to acquiring a full or robust comprehension of it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "learn" and "by." Learning by rote has been proven by many studies to be nearly useless in the long-term retention of information. There are so many characters in the Japanese alphabets that I have to learn them by rote.
See also: by, learn, rote

learn from (someone or something)

1. To acquire knowledge, wisdom, or experience from someone or something. I learned from the greatest still-life painter in the world. I'm trying to learn from my past mistakes.
2. To glean or acquire specific knowledge, wisdom, or experience from someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "learn" and "from." I'm going to be sad to see you go, boss—I've learned everything I know about the business world from you. I'm learning a lot about the way this works just by watching what other people do.
See also: learn

learn of (someone or something)

To discover or become informed about someone or something. By the time I learned of his treachery, he had already escaped with the diamonds. We've learned of an artist in the south of France who would be perfect for our project.
See also: learn, of

learn to live with (someone or something)

To learn to accept someone or something; to get used to or become accustomed to someone or something. Said especially of a person or thing that one initially finds unpleasant, undesirable, or annoying. The paint job looks kind of sloppy, but I'll just have learn to live with it, unless I want to redo the whole thing myself. At first my roommate's habits were infuriating, but eventually I learned to live with them. I know you don't get along, but you're partners now, so you'll have to learn to live with each other.
See also: learn, live
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

learn a thing or two

(about someone or something) Go to a thing or two (about someone or something).
See also: learn, thing, two

learn by something

to learn [something] from some kind of actual experience. The best way to learn is to learn by doing. The best way to learn to sail is to learn by sailing.
See also: by, learn

learn something by rote

Fig. to learn something by memorizing without giving any thought to what is being learned. I learned history by rote; then I couldn't pass the test that required me to think. If you learn things by rote, you'll never understand them.
See also: by, learn, rote
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • a/the feel of (something)
  • (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
  • (one) could use (something)
  • (one) never would have guessed
  • (you've) got to get up pretty early in the morning to (do something)
  • all right
  • a straw will show which way the wind blows
  • a crack at (someone or something)
  • (one's) heart is set on (something)
  • (one) doesn't give a rip (about something)
References in classic literature
The learned man heard nothing of all this--for they had deprived him of life.
Andersens Fairy Tales
Effective Online Teacher Preparation: Lessons Learned. Symposium, lead facilitator and co-presenter, AACTE Conference, San Diego CA, Feb, 2006
Emergence of self-regulation among online learners
Teachers should present information using metaphors, and giving students choices in how they want to present information they've learned.
Learning styles: want to have teachers reach every student? Think seeing, feeling, touching
In our grandparents' day--or even our parents'--what we learned in school was reasonably expected to provide us with useful information for a lifetime.
Process education: a humanistic response to fundamentalism
Some instructors have maintained that servicelearning experiences are extremely valuable (Giuliano, 2001; Kivenen & Ristela, 2002; Kretchmar, 2001 ; Tuber, et al., 1999; Valerius & Hamilton, 2001); service-learning can help students model the concepts they have learned in class as well as show the students that the material they are learning is directly applicable to real-world situations.
Teaching and learning operant principles in animal shelters: perspectives from faculty, students, and shelter staff
With active learning, data learned at an early stage can limit the diversity of a system, thus new types of compounds are often not discovered, representing another major issue of the random screening method.
NEC Verifies Effectiveness of New Drug Screening System Utilizing Active Learning
There is no formalized process for capturing and documenting what was learned so that this knowledge can serve as an input into the next project or query.
Knowledge sharing, communities of practice, and Learning Asset Integration--Dau's major initiatives
The college expanded on its programs, students learned marketable skills and graduated with a high likelihood of getting hired, and BMO had the opportunity to source individuals and cut down specific training time."
Customized learning solutions: tailor-made training enhances bottom line
However, teachers need special training to work with preschoolers since it is not uncommon for them to exhibit "unsocial behavior." They have not learned to share with others or take turns in what they do.
Nurturing students through group lessons
While the ILSSL have received extensive attention since their appearance in the summer of 1998, much of the attention--understandably--has been devoted to practice as the field learned about and tried to implement the new national guidelines.
Research in school library media for the next decade: polishing the diamond
Bob Mosher, executive director of education at ElementK, an eLearning company that provides courses, service and support, believes there is an important distinction to be made between a "hard money" return on investment and the true success of any learning experience--the degree to which students can apply what they've learned when they're back on the job.
Anytime anyplace learning. (eLearning)
The participant had learned from his father that he might encounter discrimination and unjust treatment over which he had no control.
Hidden resources and barriers in career learning assessment with adolescents vulnerable to discrimination
"In times of change the learners will inherit the earth, while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists." This quote by Eric Hoffer provides the insight that for learning to be meaningful to one's human experience, what is learned must have a deeper purpose than just the collection of data.
2001 Charles Edgar Hoyt Memorial Lecture The knowledge Equation: Formula for Wisdom
As most CEOs know (and some have learned the hard way), yesterday's adage, "if it ain't (too) broke, don't fix it," hardly works in today's hypercompetitive environment.
Learning By Doing: One Company's Experience With XBT Technology
He observed: "We think people won't learn unless you take them off the job, sit them down and put them through a step-by-step instruction program." Stack cited a study conducted by the Center for Workforce Development that said up to 70% of what employees know about their jobs was learned informally from the people they work with.
CPE Is broke; let's fix it