guilt trip

¹ American  

noun

1. Informal. a feeling of guilt or responsibility, especially one not justified by reality.

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guilt-trip ² American  

[gilt-trip] / ˈgɪltˌtrɪp /

verb (used with object)

guilt-tripped, guilt-tripping

1. Informal. to attempt to instill a guilt trip in; play upon the guilt feelings of.

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Etymology

Origin of guilt-trip

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

"She always used to guilt trip us about it."

From BBC • Nov. 19, 2024

She even defies her father when he tries and fails to guilt trip her into not going to Sarah Lawrence.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2024

This paradox is Thomson’s central concern throughout the book, but that doesn’t mean “The Fatal Alliance” is a book-length guilt trip.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 10, 2023

If the crowd wasn’t laughing, he could lay on a guilt trip: “Could you be a little more quiet? Because I’m going to have a nervous breakdown.”

From New York Times • Feb. 20, 2023

Rather than giving me a guilt trip, Diego said, “Any time,” and I knew he meant it.

From "We Are the Ants" by Shaun David Hutchinson