| Idiom |
Meaning |
|
| Go up a blind alley |
If you go up a blind alley,
you follow a course of action which
first seemed promising but leads in the wrong direction or nowhere.
"The revelations promised by the suspect lead the police up a
blind alley." |
|
Eat crow/eat humble pie |
If you eat crow
(or humble pie), you have to admit that you
were wrong about something and apologize.
"He had no option but to eat crow and admit that his analysis
was wrong. |
|
Eat one's words |
If you eat your words, you have to admit that
what you said
before was wrong.
"After predicting disastrous
results, he had to eat his words
with the success of the new
product. |
|
Freudian
slip |
This refers to a mistake made by a speaker which is considered
to reveal their true thoughts or feelings.
"So you got the job - I'm so sad - sorry, I mean glad!" |
|
Swallow
one's words |
If you swallow your words, you admit that you said something
wrong.
"He said I'd never get the job, but he had to swallow his
words
when I was appointed." |
|
Back the wrong
horse |
If you back or bet on the wrong horse, for example the loser
in a contest, match or election, you support the wrong person.
"When I voted for him, I was convinced he would win, but I
backed the
wrong horse!" |
|
Bark up the wrong tree |
A person who is barking up the
wrong tree is doing the
wrong thing, because their beliefs or ideas are
incorrect or
mistaken.
"The
police are barking up the wrong tree if they think Johnny
stole the car. He can't drive!" |
|
Wide of the mark |
If something is (or falls) wide of the mark, it is incorrect or
inadequate, or it is not what is required or expected.
"The price offered was wide of the mark - it was sold for
ten times more!" |
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