Phrases, chiefly transferred and figurative. to eat one's words: to retract in a humiliating manner. See also humble pie, n.

intransitive for reflexive. Obsolete or dialect.

In various figurative and proverbial uses. to eat (any one's) toads, to be a mean dependant, to toady (see toad-eater, n.). toad under a harrow…

to eat humble pie: to be very submissive; to apologize humbly; to submit to humiliation.

intransitive. To lie prone or with the face downwards; to move with the body prostrate upon the ground; to grovel in the dustor dirt (figurative)…