: to retract what one has said
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eat one's words
To take back what one has said
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Main Entry: ↑eat
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eat one's words
To retract what one has said, or apologize for it, usu under compulsion
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Main Entry: ↑word
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retract what one has said, esp. in a humiliated way
they will eat their words when I win
Useful english dictionary. 2012.