IdiomFood & DrinkEnglish

eat humble pie

Meaning: To admit one was wrong and apologize humbly.

Example: “After insisting the shortcut was faster, Dad had to eat humble pie when we arrived an hour late.”

Origin: A pun. "Umble pie" was made from the "umbles," the heart, liver and other innards of a deer, a cheaper dish than the venison itself. "Humble pie" in the figurative sense is recorded from the early 19th century.

Equivalents in other languages

See all 4 languages side by side →

More English idioms

Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters

Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.

Browse all tongue twisters →

Keep exploring

Explore all idioms →