Eat the Humble Pie - Idiom of the Day for IELTS Speaking & Writing
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Aiming for a higher band score of 8+? Add the idiom 'Eat the Humble Pie' into your vocabulary bank and learn the meaning, usage, example sentences and apply it naturally in the IELTS Speaking & Writing Sections to make your answer stand out.
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Do you know what it means to ‘Eat the Humble Pie’? Even though it sounds like describing something delicious, the literal meaning has nothing at all to do with food. This phrase means to admit you were wrong and accept it gracefully. Using such idioms in IELTS Speaking and Writing will make your answers sound more natural and fluent. With such idioms in your answers appropriately, this will add authenticity and expressiveness to your answers in the IELTS Exam.
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Meaning of the Idiom ‘Eat the Humble Pie’
To become an expert in IELTS Vocabulary and grammar accuracy, you will have to improve your idiomatic use. Using idiomatic phrases will make your answers sound engaging, and set off your ability for creative and flexible uses of the English language. This is an important attribute which you need to acquire to get a higher band score of 8+. Let’s look at the table below to get familiar with the meaning, synonyms, and example sentences of the idiom ‘Eat the Humble Pie’.
|
Topic |
Description |
|
Eat the Humble Pie |
Idiom |
|
Definition |
To accept you were wrong in humiliating circumstances. |
|
Synonyms |
Confess, Apologize, Admit fault |
|
Examples |
The football team had to eat humble pie after losing the match with a terrible score. Don’t be arrogant. I hope you will eat humble pie after you realise you were wrong.
The producers of the advert had to eat humble pie and apologise for misrepresenting the facts. Many believe that countries have to eat the humble pie and admit their role in climate change. |
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How to Use ‘Eat the Humble Pie’ in IELTS Speaking & Writing Answers?
In order to implement using the idiom ‘Eat the Humble Pie’ in your IELTS Speaking & Writing answers, you must learn how to use them. This would showcase your ability to demonstrate your proficiency in using the term. The table below shows the different ways you can incorporate idioms into your responses.
|
Section |
Strategies |
Example |
|
Speaking Part 1 (Daily life) |
|
After missing my friend's birthday party, I had to eat a bit of that humble pie and sincerely apologize. |
|
Speaking Part 2 (Describe a time you made a mistake) |
|
I had to eat the humble pie in front of the entire team. |
|
Speaking Part 3 (Discussion on learning from mistakes) |
|
Sometimes, a leader has to eat humble pie when his decisions don't pan out. |
|
Writing Task 2 (Argumentative Essay) |
|
Many governments eventually have to eat the humble pie when their economic policies fail. |
|
Writing Task 2 (Problem-solution essay) |
|
Corporations often need to eat the humble pie when customers point out flaws. |
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Exercise on ‘Eat the Humble Pie’ for IELTS Speaking & Writing
While using the idiom ‘Eat the Humble Pie’, it is essential to know how to fit it naturally. The below exercise will help you to strengthen your confidence in using this idiomatic expression in the proper context. Have a look at the activity below, and see how well you apply it in a context.
The sentence given below contains an idiom. From the given alternatives, choose the one that best expresses the meaning of this idiom.
1 In the end, he had to eat the humble pie.
- defend himself.
- apologise.
- have an aggressive attitude.
- none of these
2 She decided to sit on the fence during the argument.
- make a clear decision
- avoid taking sides
- argue aggressively
- show anger
3 After discussion, they finally hit it off.
- became friends quickly
- disagreed strongly
- stopped talking
- started arguing
4 He was going to pop the question on their anniversary.
- ask a question in class
- make a complaint
- share his opinion
- propose marriage
5 No matter what they did, their relationship was on the rocks.
- very stable
- flourishing
- in trouble
- unimportant
Answer to the Exercise on ‘Eat the Humble Pie’ for IELTS Speaking & Writing
Were your answers correct? Even if you got some wrong, don’t worry since that's part of the learning process. Compare answers with those given, observe why you made some mistakes, and learn from them to hone your skills and take a step closer to your IELTS objectives.
- B. apologise humbly
- B. avoid taking sides
- A. became friends quickly
- D. propose marriage
- C. in trouble
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Using idioms correctly is a skill for achieving a higher band score in the Speaking and IELTS Writing section. With due practice, this will promote fluency in expression while sounding natural and confident. Remember that it is about the context where idioms must be used when suitable. When used regularly, you will have the word in your subconscious mind which will be helpful in recalling this term when needed.
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