the L
Chicago's elevated railway
The L is slang for a loss or failure, especially a humiliating one.
Taking the L means accepting defeat: Just take the L and move on.
The phrase comes from sports statistics, where W and L denote wins and losses, but it has spread to describe any setback or embarrassment: That was a massive L for the company.
- elevatedRaised above usual level
- trainRail vehicle or instruct
- L trainElevated urban transit line
- ChicagoMajor Illinois metropolis
- subwayUnderground transit passage
platform · tracks · rumble · commute · overhead · railway · station · urban · transit · loop · take the L · letter · letter L · alphabet · twelfth · shape · angle · bracket
- Chicagothe Loop, Chicago, Chicago River, Lake Michigan, Wrigley Field
- Chicago infrastructureCTA, Chicago L, L train, elevated trains, O'Hare
- Chicago TransitCTA, L train, Green Line, elevated train, O'Hare
- fare thee wellFormal, antiquated goodbye