dine on ashes

dine on ashes (third-person singular simple present dines on ashes, present participle dining on ashes, simple past and past participle dined on ashes)

1. (idiomatic) To mope over past defeats or failures.
   • 2009, Charles Westbrook, Fresh Daily, page 25:

     His redemptive power — propels us forward. It will not allow us to continue dining on ashes. The journey is yet before us, with Him. There is yet much to be done. There are many successes yet before us, and He calls us to move toward them.

   • 2013, Richard Black, A Cross in Time, page 16:

     Yet again his studies could not relieve the sense of defeat. He could not help dining on ashes. How long had he struggled on this stupid thesis?