Eat humble pie

Meaning

Admit error and apologize.

Usage

Used when someone must acknowledge a mistake.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

'Umble pie' was a medieval pie made from the 'umbles' (organs) of deer, eaten by servants; the pun on 'humble' gave the idiom.

'Umble pie' is recorded from the 1600s; the idiom 'eat humble pie' dates from the 19th century.