guilt trip

¹ American  

noun

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

---

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.

---

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

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

So it boils down to finding the folks who will see your pitch as an opportunity, not as a guilt trip.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2022

I didn't want to talk to Lara, but the next day at lunch, Takumi pulled the ultimate guilt trip.

From "Looking for Alaska" by John Green