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
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