Skip to main content
to swallow pride

to swallow pride

9 5.7
To accept being wrong to make peace or get help
  • phrasal verb
  • Informal
translation icon : tragarse el orgullo
  • I swallowed my pride and borrowed $5,000 from my father.
  • swallowed my pride and asked
  • swallow his pride and admit
  • swallowed his pride and accepted

Swallow your pride, swallow your pride and go get help.

Examples

  • You swallowed your pride and approached your mother for a loan.

    Academic text (2007)
  • When do you swallow your pride and admit the administration is in over its head?

    Blog text (34)
  • And should I maybe swallow my pride and actually get back into it?

  • And so, like, I had to swallow my pride on this because I wanted to, I wanted to get learned, all right?

  • So she decided to swallow her pride and come to see me.

  • Swallow your pride, swallow your pride and go get help.

  • Before then, we may very well need to swallow our pride and eat a lot of crow.

    Blog text (8)
  • You're gonna have to swallow your pride and get a man in here who can help run this camp.

  • I swallowed my pride and apologized to Brad.

  • He realized he had to swallow pride and apologize to his friend to restore their relationship.

Synonyms

to concede
vsto swallow pride
49 4.9

To accept that you have lost a contest or election

is done by setting aside personal dignity to achieve reconciliation or benefit
to take it on the chin
vsto swallow pride
  • Informal
7 8.2

Accept failure or criticism bravely without complaining

involves setting aside dignity to reconcile or reach a greater good
to eat crow
vsto swallow pride
  • Informal
4 8.9

To admit you were wrong and feel embarrassed

is chosen to set aside dignity earlier to restore relations not only after proof
to wave the white flag
vsto swallow pride
  • Informal
4 4.0

To stop trying and accept that you lost

is more about personal humility to repair relations rather than public surrender
to eat dirt
vsto swallow pride
  • Informal
2 8.9

To admit you are wrong and accept feeling ashamed, often unwillingly

is typically a willing act done to reconcile or achieve a greater good
to say uncle
vsto swallow pride
  • Informal
2 8.9

To give up because of pressure or pain

is chosen willingly to restore goodwill rather than forced surrender
to cry uncle
vsto swallow pride
  • Informal
1 8.8

To admit you give up when someone pressures you

is a voluntary act that puts dignity aside to mend relations
to eat humble pie
vsto swallow pride
  • Informal
1 7.9

To admit you are wrong and feel embarrassed

is done to set aside dignity to repair relationships or achieve a greater good
to swallow the leek
vsto swallow pride
  • Archaic
9.9

To accept something unpleasant during talks to avoid bigger problems

is a voluntary sacrifice of dignity to reconcile or secure a benefit
to chuck up the sponge
vsto swallow pride
  • UK
9.9

To stop trying because it seems pointless

is more about sacrificing dignity to repair relations not simply giving up

Antonyms

22 3.7

Keep your decision or opinion when others try to make you change

To behave in a calm, proud way when facing difficulty

How Humble

to eat humble pie
  • Informal
1 7.9
to swallow pride
  • Informal
9 5.7

Surface Forms

swallow pride infinitive
swallowed pride past participle
swallowing pride present participle
swallows pride third person singular

Morphology

swallow + pride

The expression uses a metaphorical sense of 'swallow' (to accept/endure something unpleasant) applied to the abstract noun 'pride', so a learner who knows both words may infer the idea of putting aside dignity. However, the idiomatic framing and abstract target make the specific sense (accepting humiliation or admitting defeat) not fully predictable from the parts without prior exposure. Cross-linguistic parallels (e.g. French 'avaler son orgueil') increase accessibility but do not make it fully transparent.

Etymology

Swallow pride may come from the image of forcing down something bitter: you swallow a bad taste and keep it inside instead of spitting it out. That's why to swallow your pride means to put your pride away and do something embarrassing or 'to accept humiliation' so you can move on.