Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

eat one's words

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.27 in modern English

Syllables: eat one's -words
IPA

16

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

2

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To regret or retract what one has said.

Example Sentences

"He didn't think I could do it, but I proved him wrong and made him eat his words."
"This time, you have to eat your words, because, like it or not, you lost."
""Better retract that," she advised, "hadn't you?" "Why should I?" "Because if you're stupid enough to remain in Bombay, I'll make you eat your words one day.""
"However, in 1844, saner counsels prevailed, and Edgeley became the principal station—the directors eating their words once more by retaining the older station, which was renamed Heaton Norris."
"Of course, if she [J. K. Rowling] has turned into a first-class writer with her forthcoming Potter book, I will happily, no, joyously, eat my words."

Inflected Forms

eats one's words (present, singular) eating one's words (participle, present) ate one's words (past) eaten one's words (participle, past)

Synonyms

eat crow recant take back

Questions

What does eat one's words mean?: To regret or retract what one has said.

How to pronounce eat one's words

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