eat one's words
(Redirected from eat one's own words)
English
editVerb
editeat one's words (third-person singular simple present eats one's words, present participle eating one's words, simple past ate one's words, past participle eaten one's words)
- (figuratively) To regret or retract what one has said.
- He didn't think I could do it, but I proved him wrong and made him eat his words.
- This time, you have to eat your words, because, like it or not, you lost.
- 1936, F.J. Thwaites, chapter II, in The Redemption, Sydney: H. John Edwards, page 16:
- "Better retract that," she advised, "hadn't you?" "Why should I?" "Because if you're stupid enough to remain in Bombay, I'll make you eat your words one day."
Synonyms
edit- (regret): eat crow
- (retract): recant, take back; See also Thesaurus:recant
Translations
editregret something said
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