swallow one's words
The idiom "swallow one's words" is used to describe situations where someone has to retract what they have said or speaks unclearly.
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Definition
B2General Communication
(informal)To take back something previously said, often because it has been proven wrong or to avoid conflict.
Example
- After seeing the evidence, he had to swallow his words and apologize.
- She'll swallow her words once she hears the real story.
B2Speech Clarity
(informal)To speak in a way that is unclear or difficult to understand, often due to uncertainty or nervousness.
Example
- He was so nervous during his presentation that he swallowed his words.
- You need to speak up; you're swallowing your words.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "swallow one's words":
swallow upwatch one's mouthfall on one's swordwash one's mouth outchange one's tuneput one's money where one's mouth ismouth the wordsbitter pill to swallowbite backpill to swallowstick one's foot in itgive tongue