[Idiom] EAT YOUR WORDS. - Eat Your Words: Admitting Mistakes in Conversations

admitting one was wrong after making a statement

To 'eat your words' doesn't involve dining on paper or ink; rather, it's a figurative expression used when someone has to admit that something they said was wrong. Picture yourself confidently stating something, only to learn later that your assertion was incorrect. Now, you metaphorically have to 'eat'—or take back—those spoken words. It's a humbling experience, often accompanied by a mix of regret and embarrassment, depending on the gravity of the initial statement. Employing this idiom serves as a potent reminder of the importance of thinking before speaking, as it highlights the potential need to retract one's erroneous statements.

Example Sentences

1. You'll have to eat your words.

   You'll have to take back what you said.

2. After their defeat, the coach had to eat his words.

   After their loss, the coach had to admit he was wrong.

3. She was so sure she was right, but when proven wrong, she had to eat her words.

   She was convinced she was right, but when proven wrong, she had to admit her mistake.