Eat One’s Words, To: To be forced to retract a statement, usually in a humiliating way. The term first appeared in a sixteenth-century tract by John Calvin on Psalm 62: “God eateth not his word when he hath once spoken.” In 1618, Sir Walter Raleigh wrote in his memoirs, “Nay wee’le make you confesse … and eat your own words,” and in 1670 the expression appeared in John Ray’s collection of English proverbs.
Related and Similar Terms
- Choke on one’s words: To regret what you have said deeply.
- Eat crow: To be humiliated by admitting one’s wrong.
- Swallow your pride: To humble oneself.
- Humble pie: The humiliating experience of having to admit being wrong.
- Put one’s foot in one’s mouth: To say something foolish or embarrassing.
Synonyms
- Apologize
- Retract
- Recant
- Backtrack
Antonyms
- Stand proud
- Assert
- Declare
- Maintain
Humorous Quotes
- “Words are like swords; if you use them wrongly, they’ll cut you to the bone.”
- “I’m on a 30-day diet. So far, I’ve lost 15 days.”
Proverbs and Common Phrases
- “Bite your tongue” — Make an effort to avoid saying something inappropriate.
- “Loose lips sink ships” — Unwise talk can lead to trouble.
References in Literature and Pop Culture
- Fit for the Bin by Amy Applebe (the chapter “How to Serve Your Words on a Platter”)
- “Sorry and Not Sorry” by Jinnie Jumble on the album Hum at the Moon
- Yelling on a Mic (comedy sketch where characters have to retract statements hilariously)
Recommended Reads & Watch
- Literature: Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift
- Books: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- Songs: “Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word” by Elton John
- Poetry: “This is Just to Say” by William Carlos Williams
- Movies: Liar Liar starring Jim Carrey
Intriguing Quizzes
### Which of these is a real idiom?
- [x] Eat one’s words
- [ ] Speak with a pizza tongue
- [ ] Dance on confetti clouds
- [ ] Scribble in banana ink
> **Explanation:** "Eat one’s words" is an idiom referring to the act of retracting a statement. The others are playful but fictitious concoctions.
### Which phrase corresponds to a real saying?
- [ ] Sneeze with reluctant cheese
- [ ] Yawn to the midnight moon
- [x] Eat humble pie
- [ ] Juggle words with wizard hands
> **Explanation:** "Eat humble pie" is the correct phrase. It means to be humiliated by admitting one’s errors. The others? More tasty slices of pure nonsense.
### True or False: 'Choke on one’s words' is an idiom that means to be regretful about something you’ve said.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** Absolutely true. To "choke on one’s words" means to regret one's spoken words deeply.
### Choose the correct idiom that implies saying something foolish.
- [ ] Swim in wise rivers
- [ ] Knit with chicken feathers
- [x] Put one’s foot in one’s mouth
- [ ] Grate sunbeams into soup
> **Explanation:** "Put one’s foot in one’s mouth" is an idiom meaning to say something foolish or embarrassing. The other options, while amusing, don't carry the same meaning.
Embrace the beautiful quirkiness of idioms, let them dance off your tongue, and always have your humble pie served with a pinch of humor.
Until next time, Word Warriors!
💭 Thought-for-the-day: “Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.” — Rudyard Kipling
