Akademik

П-220
ПРИНОСИТЬ/ПРИНЕСТИ ПОВИННУЮ (ГОЛОВУ obs) (кому) VP subj: human to acknowledge one's guilt, usu. expressing repentance
X принёс повинную — X (humbly) confessed his guilt
(in limited contexts) X came cap (hat) in hand ( usu. of a criminal) X gave himself up X turned himself in.
...Увидев, что правда на стороне головотяпов, (кособрю-хие) принесли повинную (Салтыков-Щедрин 1). Only when they (the Skewbellies) saw that right was on the side of the Knockheads did they give themselves up (1a).

Большой русско-английский фразеологический словарь. — М.: ACT-ПРЕСС КНИГА. . 2004.