eat humble pie

Cultural  

1. To be forced to acknowledge one's deficiencies or errors: “Professor Norris had to eat humble pie when the reviewers pointed out numerous factual errors in his book.” Humble pie refers to a dish originally made from the innards of a deer.

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Example Sentences

One said they thought they would have to "eat humble pie" and admit their initial instinct "was wrong" and that "Rishi has squared the circle."

From BBC

Another Tory MP, who last week had been deeply sceptical that Mr Sunak could reach an acceptable deal, told the BBC they should probably "eat humble pie" as it looked like the prime minister had done it.

From BBC

“The government has had to eat humble pie,” said Pratap Bhanu Mehta, a senior fellow at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi.

From New York Times

Anyone who says they are sure about anything in their teens runs the risk of having to eat humble pie later on.

From The Guardian

“It’s time for the Federal Reserve to eat humble pie and acknowledge that.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• abandon
• capitulate
• cede
• commit
• concede
• give in
• hand over
• leave
• quit
• relinquish
• renounce
• submit
• succumb
• waive
• yield