eat humble pie
Meaning
To admit you were wrong and accept humiliation or embarrassment, often after being overconfident or critical.
Origin
From older “umble pie,” a pie made from a deer’s offal (“umbles”), considered low-status food; it later merged with “humble,” creating a metaphor for swallowing pride after being wrong.
Notes
Suggests swallowing pride and accepting embarrassment after being wrong, often after boasting or criticizing. Usable in speech and writing; can sound gloating if aimed at someone else.
Examples
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After boasting all week, he had to eat humble pie when his project failed.
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She ate humble pie and apologized for accusing her coworker without proof.
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The team was forced to eat humble pie after predicting an easy win and losing badly.
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When the facts came out, the politician quietly ate humble pie and admitted he was wrong.
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I didn’t want to eat humble pie, but I thanked my sister for being right about the budget.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Usually used as a verb phrase: eat/eats/ate/is eating humble pie. Often with “have to,” “make someone,” or “be forced to.” Article is fixed: “humble pie.”
Synonyms
- swallow your pride
- admit you were wrong
- back down
- own up
- take back what you said
Antonyms
- stand your ground
- refuse to apologize
- double down