ravaler ses paroles
Meaning: To take back what one has said; also, to hold back words one was about to say.
Language: French
Literally: to swallow one's words back down
Example: “Il disait que je n'y arriverais jamais ; mon diplôme en poche, je lui ai fait ravaler ses paroles.” — He said I'd never make it; with my diploma in hand, I made him eat his words.
English equivalent: To eat one's words
Category: Food & Drink
Origin: Built on ravaler, literally "to swallow again": the words are pictured as pushed back down the throat. The Littré dictionary records both senses — stopping short of saying something, and retracting insulting remarks made against someone — and it is common as faire ravaler ses paroles à quelqu'un, to force someone to take back what they said.
Equivalents in other languages
- English: eat one's words
More idioms — Food & Drink
- mettre l'eau à la bouche — Making someone crave or desire something through temptation.
- tremper son biscuit — Engaging in a brief romantic or intimate encounter.
- faire la soupe à la grimace — To sulk; to give someone a sour, unwelcoming face, especially at home.
- avoir les yeux plus gros que le ventre — Taking more food than one can actually eat; wanting too much.
- manger du bout des lèvres — Eating without appetite or showing disinterest in the meal.
- in den sauren Apfel beißen — To accept an unpleasant necessity or disagreeable situation with resignation and stoicism.
More French idioms
- avoir la grosse tête — Being arrogant, conceited, or thinking highly of oneself.
- faire un bide — Experiencing complete failure or lack of success.
- avoir la chair de poule — Experiencing fear, cold, or emotional reaction causing skin reaction.
- crier sur les toits — To announce something loudly and publicly, for everyone to hear.
- mettre le doigt sur la plaie — Identifying the exact problem or sensitive issue in a situation.
- faire un poisson d'avril — To play an April Fools' prank on someone.
From our compliments & insults
- Tu as le vent en poupe — Everything is going your way — you're riding a wave of momentum and success.
- Tu es un as — You're brilliant at what you do — the very best.
- Tu as de la répartie — You're brilliantly quick-witted — always ready with the perfect comeback.