Dictionary of American idioms

SADDER BUT WISER

sadder but wiser: translation

sadder but wiser
Clichéunhappy but knowledgeable [about someone or something—after an unpleasant event]. •

After the accident, I was sadder but wiser, and would never make the same mistake again.

We left the meeting sadder but wiser, knowing that we could not ever come to an agreement with Becky's aunt.