swallow one's words
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Take back what one said, as in If they win I'll have to swallow my words. George Farquhar used this idiom in The Inconstant (1702): “I have swallowed my words already; I have eaten them up.” For a synonym, see eat one's words.
QUIZ
QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"
"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."
Question 1 of 7
IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?
Words nearby swallow one's words
swallow, swallow dive, swallow hole, swallowing reflex, swallow one's pride, swallow one's words, swallowtail, swallow-tailed, swallow-tailed coat, swallow-tailed kite, swallow-tanager
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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