Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.

Eat humble pie

The correct answer is 'To apologise humbly'.

Key Points

• The most appropriate meaning of the given idiom 'Eat humble pie' is 'To apologise humbly'.
• The idiom "eat humble pie" means to admit one's fault, mistake, or inferiority in a humble and contrite manner.
  • Example: After boasting about his abilities, he had to eat a humble pie when he failed to complete the task.
     

Correct Answer: To apologise humbly.

Additional Information

• Let's look at the meaning of other words:
  • The phrase "eat humble pie" is believed to have originated from the Medieval English dish "umble pie", which was a pie made from the offal (internal organs) of an animal, such as deer or boar.
  • The word "umble" comes from the Latin word "umbilicus" meaning "entrails". This pie was considered a lowly and inferior food, and it was often served to lower-class people, such as servants, instead of the higher-quality meat pies that were reserved for the wealthy.
  • Over time, the phrase "eat humble pie" evolved to mean admitting to one's lowly or inferior position or behavior in a humble and contrite way, much like the act of eating a humble pie.