guilt


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absolve from guilt

To consider innocent, clear of all suspicion, or pardon from any cause of guilt. The knights of the crusades committed many atrocities in their campaign, but they were absolved from guilt by the heads of the church. I know you feel horrible, but you did cheat on her, Jack. And as much as you want to be absolved of guilt, she has no obligation to do that. I know you're sorry. You've been absolved from guilt, son.
See also: absolve, guilt

absolved from guilt

Considered innocent, cleared of all suspicion, or pardoned from any cause of guilt. The knights of the crusades committed many atrocities in their campaign, but they were regarded as absolved from guilt because of their religious patronage. I know you feel horrible, but you did cheat on her, Jack. And as much as you want to be absolved from guilt, she has no obligation to do that. I know you're sorry. You've been absolved from guilt, son.
See also: absolve, guilt

eaten up with (something)

Obsessed, overcome, or preoccupied with some negative emotion. I've been eaten up with anger ever since I found out that my co-worker totally sabotaged me for that promotion. I'm really worried about Wendy—she's still eaten up with guilt over what happened.
See also: eaten, up

guilt by association

An assumption of culpability due merely to one's association with a particular person, group, or thing. In reality, the CEO had nothing to do with the scandal perpetrated by the company's Chief Technology Officer, but it's seen as guilt by association in the eyes of the public. The popular Internet forum was never intended to serve as a platform for extremism, but guilt by association has set in over the years due to the increasing prevalence of such views being published and shared there.
See also: association, by, guilt

guilt complex

A very strong and persistent feeling of guilt regarding something or some event. John developed a guilt complex after forcing his brother to move out.
See also: complex, guilt

guilt trip

1. noun A deep feeling of guilt or remorse. I'm having a guilt trip for not being able to attend my sister's wedding.
2. verb To make others feel guilty, especially in an attempt to manipulate them. Kelly's parents were always trying to guilt trip her for not giving them grandchildren. You can't guilt trip me into donating money, I give enough to charity already.
See also: guilt, trip

lay a guilt trip on (one)

To make one feel guilty, especially in an attempt to manipulate. Kelly's parents were always trying to lay a guilt trip on her for not giving them grandchildren. These charity commercials are really laying a guilt trip on me. I guess that's a sign I should donate.
See also: guilt, lay, on, trip

put a guilt trip on (one)

To make one feel guilty, especially in an attempt to manipulate. Kelly's parents were always trying to put a guilt trip on her for not giving them grandchildren. These charity commercials are really putting a guilt trip on me. I guess that's a sign I should donate.
See also: guilt, on, put, trip

racked with guilt

Suffering from, preoccupied by, or paralyzed with an intense and overwhelming feeling of guilt. I've been racked with guilt ever since I took that bribe. I don't know how people can take advantage of others like that. If it were me, I'd be racked with guilt for doing something so heinous.
See also: guilt, rack

send (one) on a guilt trip

To make one feel guilty, especially in an attempt to manipulate. Kelly's parents were always trying to send her on a guilt trip for not giving them grandchildren. These charity commercials are really sending me on a guilt trip. I guess that's a sign I should donate.
See also: guilt, on, send, trip
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

a ˈguilt trip

(informal) things you say to somebody in order to make them feel guilty about something: Don’t lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.
See also: guilt, trip
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

lay a (heavy) trip on someone

1. tv. to criticize someone. There’s no need to lay a trip on me. I agree with you.
2. tv. to confuse or astonish someone. After he laid a heavy trip on me about how the company is almost broke, I cleaned out my desk and left.
3. and lay a guilt trip on someone tv. to attempt to make someone feel very guilty. Why do you have to lay a guilt trip on me? Why don’t you go to a shrink? Keep your problems to yourself. Don’t lay a trip on me!
See also: heavy, lay, on, someone, trip

lay a guilt trip on someone

verb
See lay a heavy trip on someone
See also: guilt, lay, on, someone, trip
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

lay a guilt trip on

To make or try to make (someone) feel guilty.
See also: guilt, lay, on, trip
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive ?
Mental pollution and inflated responsibility in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: The contribution of anxiety, disgust, and guilt. (Doctoral Dissertation, Fordham University, 2005).
When good people have bad thoughts: religiosity and the emotional regulation of guilt-inducing intrusive thoughts
Psychologists fascinated by guilt have tried to identify its function in our lives.
The 'G' Word
Relation of shame and guilt to constructive versus destructive responses to anger across the lifespan.
Validation of the TOSCA-3 among Chinese young adults
At the risk of overgeneralization, we could say that if Hindus commit acts of wrongdoing, they will most likely not dwell on guilt conscience the way it has been paradigmatic in Western contexts.
Tragic knowledge and karmic release
A key characteristic of OCD is believing that negative thoughts will become a reality, leading to a spiralling build-up of anxiety and guilt. e new study looked at brain wave patterns in people with varying degrees of OCD symptoms.
OCD hopes raised as guilt link is examined by scientists
In contrast, worldly grief comes from guilt which is arbitrarily founded rather than from the truth God has revealed.
Does guilt make us better Christians?
Similarly, we could distinguish between 'existential guilt' and 'moral/neurotic guilt' (though this is not a distinction made by either thinker), and regard the former as that which Heidegger speaks of, and the latter as that which Nietzsche speaks of.
Conscience, guilt; Nietzsche, Heidegger and psychotherapy
The top barriers for moms and dads were lack of time and guilt.
Dads, Not Just Moms, Battle Work/Life Balance
"Television's association with guilt has persisted since the medium's early days, but the nature and tenor of that guilt has evolved," wrote Lenika Cruz.
How watching TV alone is the new together-time
Cleansing ourselves from guilt over Vatican definitions of sexual sins might not bring us closer to confidence in God if the definitions are misguided or outdated.
Sin and guilt
I'm doing everything in my power to help him to get over this guilt but nothing is working.
HE CAN'T GET OVER GUILT AFTER AFFAIR
In addressing and assessing guilt in veterans at risk of suicide, clinicians should try to recognize the source and clinical implications of this emotion.
Veterans, guilt, and suicide risk
On the functioning of guilt potential in a conflict dilemma.
Relationship between Students' Attitudes toward Hypothetical Marketing Moral Dilemmas and Three Moral Emotions: Total Guilt, Post-transgressional Guilt and Anticipatory Guilt
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