Phrase guide

eat one's words

verb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To regret or retract what one has said.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • He didn't think I could do it, but I proved him wrong and made him eat his words.
  • This time, you have to eat your words, because, like it or not, you lost.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 承認說錯話 /承认说错话 (chéngrèn shuō cuò huà) — regret something said
  • Danish: æde sine ord — regret something said
  • Dutch: zijn woorden terugnemen — regret something said
  • Dutch: zijn woorden innemen — regret something said
  • Finnish: perua sanansa — regret something said
  • Finnish: syödä sanansa — regret something said
  • French: se rétracter — regret something said
  • Icelandic: taka orð sín aftur — regret something said
  • Icelandic: éta ofan í sig — regret something said
  • Icelandic: éta í sig — regret something said
  • Italian: ritrattarsi — regret something said
  • Māori: kairua — regret something said
  • Polish: odszczekiwać — regret something said
  • Polish: odszczekać — regret something said
  • Swedish: äta upp sina egna ord — regret something said