eat your words

eat (one's) words

To retract, regret, or feel foolish about what one has previously said. You think I can't get an A in this class, but I'll make you eat your words when we get our report cards! After my negative prediction for the season, I certainly ate my words when the team started out undefeated.
See also: eat, word
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

eat your words

COMMON If someone has to eat their words, they have to admit that an opinion that they stated publicly has now been proved wrong. He was very doubtful about our chances of success but he'll be eating his words now. The company's chairman has had to eat his words about the company being recession-proof.
See also: eat, word
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

eat your words

retract what you have said, especially when forced to do so.
See also: eat, word
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

eat your ˈwords

be forced to admit that what you have said before was wrong: Nick told everyone that he’d be picked for the team, but when he wasn’t chosen he had to eat his words.
See also: eat, word
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
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References in classic literature ?
So he gallops close to the 'orse's legs, And he claps his head vithin; And the Bishop says, 'Sure as eggs is eggs, This here's the bold Turpin!' CHORUS And the Bishop says, 'Sure as eggs is eggs, This here's the bold Turpin!' II Says Turpin, 'You shall eat your words, With a sarse of leaden bul-let;' So he puts a pistol to his mouth, And he fires it down his gul-let.
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