IdiomFood & Drink
English
Englisheat one's words
Meaning: To admit that something one said was wrong.
Example: “He swore the team would lose, but after the final whistle he had to eat his words.”
Origin: In print in English by 1571, in a tract of John Calvin's on Psalm 62 — "God eateth not his word when he hath once spoken" — and listed in John Ray's proverb collection of 1670. Taking back what you said is pictured as swallowing it.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Ravaler ses paroles Literally: To swallow one's words back down
More English idioms
- have a big head To be conceited; to think too highly of oneself.
- get lucky To succeed in having a sexual encounter.
- shout it from the rooftops To tell everyone about something, openly and loudly.
- have itchy feet To feel a restless urge to travel or move on.
- wait on someone hand and foot To do everything for someone, attending to their every need.
- bare one's teeth To show hostility and a readiness to fight.
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