I'll eat my hat

I'll eat my hat

An expression describing the hypothetical act of penance that one promises to take if they are wrong about something. I'll eat my hat if the repairs end up costing less than $1,000. If you can prove me wrong, I'll eat my hat.

See also: eat, hat

I'll eat my hat.

Fig. I will be very surprised. (Used to express strong disbelief in something.) If Joe really joins the Army, I'll eat my hat. If this car gives you any trouble, I'll eat my hat.

See also: eat, hat

eat one's hat

Declare one's certainty that something will not happen or is untrue. This hyperbolic expression almost always follows an if-clause, as in If he's on time, I'll eat my hat, that is, "I'll consume my headgear if I'm wrong." Charles Dickens used it in Pickwick Papers (1837): "If I knew as little of life as that, I'd eat my hat and swallow the buckle whole." [First half of 1800s]

See also: eat, hat

I'll eat my hat

used to indicate that you think a particular thing is extremely unlikely to happen.

See also: eat, hat