- Meaning
- This idiom means to be forced to retract or apologize for something you said, often after being proven wrong or making a false claim. It suggests the humiliation of ‘eating’ one’s own statements, implying regret or embarrassment. The phrase is used in personal, professional, or public contexts to describe the consequences of hasty or incorrect speech, often with a triumphant or reproving tone. It reflects the cultural value of accountability for words and the satisfaction of seeing boasts or errors corrected.
- Origin
- The phrase has roots in biblical and classical literature, with ‘eating one’s words’ linked to swallowing pride, as in Psalms 107:42 (King James Version, 1611). In English, it appeared by the 16th century, with Thomas Cranmer’s 1550 writings using ‘eat their words’ for recanting. The modern form was common by the 18th century, as seen in Jonathan Swift’s *Polite Conversation* (1738). Its use grew in the 19th century, particularly in journalism, with Charles Dickens’ *Great Expectations* (1861) describing characters forced to ‘eat their words.’ The phrase’s vivid imagery and relevance to public discourse ensured its spread in British and American English, especially in debates and media.
- Variants
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- Eat your words
- Eat his/her words
- Have to eat your words
- Eat their words
- Examples
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- He had to eat his words after predicting the team would lose, only to see them win.
- She ate her words when the ‘flawed’ design she criticized won an award.
- Eat your words—you said I’d never finish the marathon, but I did!
- They’ll eat their words when our startup succeeds despite their doubts.
- He ate his words after dismissing her idea, which saved the project.
- Have to eat your words now—the rookie you mocked just broke the record.
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