Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

eat one's words

idiom
/iːt wʌnz wɜːrdz/
Definition
To retract something one has said; to acknowledge that what one said was incorrect.
Examples
  • After the team won the championship, the coach had to eat his words about their lack of talent.
  • She was so confident when she criticized the plan, but now she has to eat her words since it turned out to be a success.
Meaning
When someone ‘eats their words’, they admit that their previous statement was wrong or that they were mistaken in their beliefs.
Synonyms
  • retract
  • take back
  • recant
  • admit error