wear sackcloth and ashes

Meaning: To show public regret or repentance.

Example: “After the scandal, the CEO appeared in sackcloth and ashes on every talk show.”

Origin: In the Bible, people mourning or repenting wore rough sackcloth and put ashes on their heads, as in the books of Esther and Daniel and in the Gospels.

Equivalents in other languages

French: Battre sa coulpe Literally: To beat one's fault

More English idioms

take a load off someone's mind To relieve someone of a worry.
a bottomless pit Something that uses up endless money or effort; also a person who is always hungry.
in the middle of nowhere In a very remote place, far from towns.
out of thin air Appearing from nowhere, as if by magic.
be at a low ebb To be in a poor or weak state.
the four corners of the earth Every part of the world.

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Equivalents in other languages

More idioms — Daily Life

More English idioms

Explore another collection: False Friends