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What Does “Eat Crow” Mean? Origin, Usage & Examples

The idiom “eat crow” means to admit you were wrong after insisting you were right. Figuratively, it refers to swallowing one’s pride, facing embarrassment, or conceding a mistake.

Literally, it suggests the unpleasant act of eating a crow—a bird associated with being tough, gamey, and unappetizing. This contrast makes it a memorable piece of figurative language in English.

What Does “Eat Crow” Mean? Origin, Usage & Examples

Origin or Background

The phrase “eat crow” first appeared in 19th-century America. One widely shared story comes from an 1850 newspaper article describing a farmer who lost a bet and was forced to eat a crow he had shot. Because crows were considered undesirable and even revolting to eat, the tale quickly gained symbolic meaning.

Interestingly, similar expressions exist in other cultures, such as “eating humble pie” in British English, both carrying the idea of reluctantly accepting humiliation.

Common Usage in Everyday English

People use “eat crow” in situations where:

  • Someone is proven wrong after confidently making a claim.

  • A leader or expert must admit failure in front of others.

  • A friend or colleague retracts a strong opinion.

  • Writers, comedians, and businesspeople want a colorful way to describe public embarrassment.

It’s common in both casual and professional settings, though the idiom often adds a playful or sarcastic tone.

Tone and Formality

The idiom “eat crow” is generally informal. It’s often playful, sarcastic, or used humorously rather than in very formal writing. In business or politics, it can add a dramatic flair when describing someone’s reversal of opinion.

Five Original Sentence Examples

  1. After boasting his team would never lose, Jake had to eat crow when they were crushed in the finals.

  2. The politician promised not to raise taxes, but later had to eat crow when new policies proved unavoidable.

  3. Maria laughed at her brother’s cooking, only to eat crow when his dish won first place in the contest.

  4. Our boss had to eat crow when the intern’s idea doubled company sales.

  5. I swore it wouldn’t rain, but forgot my umbrella and ended up eating crow in front of everyone.

Practical Tips / Memory Aids

  • Mnemonic: Imagine biting into a tough, greasy crow—unpleasant, just like admitting you were wrong.

  • Association: Link it with “eating humble pie,” another idiom about embarrassment.

  • Effective Use: Use it in casual conversations, blogs, or humorous commentary, but avoid overly formal reports.

Creative or Funny Story

Tom bragged all week that he was a master chess player. When his 10-year-old cousin beat him in five moves, the family brought out a toy crow at dinner. Tom “pretended” to chew on it, officially eating crow while everyone laughed. From that day on, every time he bragged, someone asked, “Want some crow with that?”

Closing Paragraph

The idiom “eat crow” is a colorful reminder that we all make mistakes—and sometimes the hardest part is admitting them. By understanding idioms like this, you enrich your English vocabulary and add humor to your conversations.

If you enjoyed this, check out more posts on common sayings and figurative language to expand your idiomatic knowledge!

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