sackcloth and ashes
Mourning attire, traditionally
Sackcloth and ashes is a display of mourning, penitence, or extreme remorse.
The phrase comes from the ancient practice of wearing rough cloth and covering oneself in ashes as signs of grief or repentance.
Modern use is usually figurative and often slightly ironic: There's no need for sackcloth and ashes—it was an honest mistake.
- mourning attireClothing for grief
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- mea culpaAcknowledgment of personal blame
- Old TestamentPre-Christian biblical canon
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
fasting · regret · Job · prayer · guilt · lamentation · humility · confession · contrition · atonement · Day of Atonement · self-reproach · shame · hairshirt · ceremonial practices · Jonah · sacrifice · purification
sackcloth and ashescelebration
Festive event marking occasion
triumph · jubilation · rejoicing · revelry · festivity
sackcloth and ashesfinery
Elegant, showy clothing
royal robes · regalia · glad rags · Sunday best · splendor
sackcloth and ashespride
Satisfaction from one's achievements
self-righteousness · arrogance · defiance · unrepentance · hubris
sacks, sacked, sacking, cloth, cloths, clothe, clothes, clothing, clothed