in the wars

in the wars

1. (informal) Injured or damaged; with the appearance of having been treated roughly.
   • 1912, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Lost World […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:

     McArdle was at his post as usual. "Well," he cried, expectantly, "what may it run to? I'm thinking, young man, you have been in the wars. Don't tell me that he assaulted you."

• “in the wars”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
• “be in the wars”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

• Swinehart, tarwhines, wears thin