swallow one's words
Admit being wrong
To swallow one's words is to retract or take back something you've said, usually because events proved you wrong or circumstances force you to back down: He predicted they'd fail, but had to swallow his words when they succeeded.
The phrase suggests reluctant admission of error—eating your own statements as if they were unpleasant medicine.
Formally withdraw a statement
- backpedalReverse one's stance
- take backWithdraw previous words
- withdrawRemove or pull away
- disavowDeny any association
renounce · eat crow · reverse · unsay · backtrack · climb down · walk back · retract
Self-conscious unease
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- chagrinDistress from wounded pride
- humilityFreedom from arrogance
comeuppance · egg on face · awkwardness · sheepishness · red-faced · chagrined · abashed · foolishness
recant
Formally withdraw a statement
disavow · renounce · eat crow · reverse · unsay · backtrack · climb down · walk back · retract · repudiate
embarrassment
Self-conscious unease
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- chagrinDistress from wounded pride
humility · comeuppance · egg on face · awkwardness · sheepishness · red-faced · chagrined · abashed · foolishness · regret
swallow one's wordsstand firm
Refuse to retreat
stick to one's guns · hold one's ground · double down · dig in one's heels · stand one's ground
swallow one's wordskeep one's word
Honor a commitment made
follow through · put one's money where one's mouth is · walk the talk · have the last laugh
swallow, swallows, swallowed, swallowing, word, words, worded, wording, wordless