Nobody likes feeling ashamed, but let’s face it—it happens. Maybe you spilled your drink at a family BBQ, or you said the wrong thing during a school presentation. That hot, sinking feeling can come out of nowhere. In everyday American life, folks use all kinds of colorful phrases to talk about these moments. Someone might “hang their head in shame” or “have egg on their face” after messing up. These idioms help us laugh a little, learn a little, and connect over those awkward, human slip-ups.
Idioms about shame are a big part of how people in the USA talk about regret, embarrassment, or owning up to mistakes. Whether it’s “eating humble pie” after losing a bet or having to “face the music” at work, these sayings show up everywhere from kitchen tables to office meetings. They turn cringeworthy moments into something we can share, understand, and even joke about.
Idioms About Shame
1. Hang your head in shame
Meaning: It describes someone feeling embarrassed or guilty after doing something wrong. You’ll often see this when a person regrets their actions and doesn’t want to make eye contact.
Example Sentence:
• After lying to his friend, he hung his head in shame.
• She hung her head in shame when she dropped her lunch in front of everyone.
Other ways to say: Feel embarrassed, feel guilty, feel ashamed
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from the natural body language of lowering the head when feeling shame.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in both American and British English. Often heard in family, school, or public settings when someone feels personal regret.
2. Eat humble pie
Meaning: To admit you were wrong and usually apologize for it. It shows that someone accepts they made a mistake and lowers their pride.
Example Sentence:
• After losing the game, Jason had to eat humble pie and admit his mistake.
• She had to eat humble pie after insulting her teacher.
Other ways to say: Apologize, admit fault, say you’re sorry
Fun Fact/Origin: In old England, “umble pie” was made from organ meat and eaten by lower-class people—later, it became a symbol of humility.
Usage/Cultural Notes: This idiom is used in both American and British English. It’s especially common in sports, work, and debates where someone is proven wrong.
3. Save face
Meaning: To avoid looking foolish or protect your reputation after a mistake. People use it when they want to stay respected even after something goes wrong.
Example Sentence:
• He tried to save face by pretending he didn’t care about losing the match.
• After the mistake, she did her best to save face in front of her coworkers.
Other ways to say: Protect your reputation, avoid embarrassment
Fun Fact/Origin: This saying comes from Asian cultures and was adopted into English, where “face” represents honor and public image.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in American business and school settings. Often used when someone is trying to quietly recover from a blunder.
4. A red face
Meaning: To show embarrassment or shame through blushing. It usually happens when someone is caught doing something awkward or silly.
Example Sentence:
• She had a red face after forgetting her lines in the school play.
• His red face showed that he was ashamed of what he had done.
Other ways to say: Blush, feel embarrassed, turn red
Fun Fact/Origin: The redness comes from the body’s natural reaction—blood rushes to the skin when we’re flustered or ashamed.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in American, British, and Australian English. Often used to describe children, teens, or anyone caught off guard in public.
5. Put your foot in your mouth
Meaning: To say something awkward or embarrassing by mistake. It usually happens when you speak without thinking and regret it right away.
Example Sentence:
• I really put my foot in my mouth when I accidentally insulted my friend’s cooking.
• He put his foot in his mouth when he mentioned his friend’s secret in front of everyone.
Other ways to say: Say something stupid, make a mistake, embarrass yourself
Fun Fact/Origin: It’s like imagining someone saying something so awkward, they’d rather block their own mouth with a foot.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Widely used in American casual talk. Also found in British English. Often used when someone says too much at the wrong time.
6. Face the music
Meaning: To accept the consequences of something you’ve done, especially when it’s uncomfortable or embarrassing. People use it when there’s no way to avoid a tough situation anymore.
Example Sentence:
• After breaking the vase, he had to face the music and tell his parents.
• She faced the music when she had to explain why she was late.
Other ways to say: Own up, accept responsibility, take the heat
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase likely came from the theater or military life, where people literally had to face a performance or command—like standing up to judgment.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in American and British English. Often used in work, school, or family situations where someone must deal with the results of their actions.
7. Be caught red-handed
Meaning: To get caught while doing something wrong, often with clear proof. It’s used when there’s no denying what happened.
Example Sentence:
• He was caught red-handed eating the last cookie in the jar.
• She was caught red-handed cheating during the test.
Other ways to say: Get caught, be caught in the act, get busted
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom originally described someone caught with blood on their hands after a crime, dating back to old legal language.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Popular in American, British, and Australian English. Often used in law, school, and parenting to describe being clearly caught doing wrong.
8. Drop the ball
Meaning: To make a mistake or miss a chance, especially when people were counting on you. It suggests letting others down.
Example Sentence:
• I really dropped the ball when I forgot my friend’s birthday.
• She dropped the ball by not studying for the exam.
Other ways to say: Mess up, fail, make a mistake
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from ball games like football or baseball—dropping the ball often ruins the play.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in American English, especially in sports or business. Also used casually when someone forgets or mishandles something important.
9. Eat crow
Meaning: To admit you were wrong in an awkward or painful way. It’s often used when someone has been proven wrong after being very sure of themselves.
Example Sentence:
• After arguing about the movie, he had to eat crow when he realized he was wrong.
• She had to eat crow after accusing her friend of cheating.
Other ways to say: Admit fault, say you were wrong, apologize
Fun Fact/Origin: Crows were once seen as unclean or unpleasant to eat, so “eating crow” became a symbol of humiliation.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Mostly used in American English. It’s similar to “eat humble pie” and often comes up in debates, sports, or friendly arguments.
10. Have egg on your face
Meaning: To feel foolish or embarrassed because of a mistake or failed plan. It describes a moment where someone looks silly in front of others.
Example Sentence:
• He had egg on his face when his surprise party was a disaster.
• After losing the bet, she had egg on her face in front of her friends.
Other ways to say: Be embarrassed, feel foolish, feel stupid
Fun Fact/Origin: It likely comes from slapstick comedy or theater, where getting hit with an egg shows someone being ridiculed.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in American English, and sometimes British English. Often used in social or public slip-ups.
11. Make a fool of yourself
Meaning: To do something that makes you look silly, often without meaning to. It’s used when someone embarrasses themselves through clumsy or awkward behavior.
Example Sentence:
• I made a fool of myself when I tripped and fell in front of the class.
• She made a fool of herself by talking too much during the meeting.
Other ways to say: Embarrass yourself, act foolish, look silly
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase simply points to turning yourself into “the fool,” like a comic character in old plays.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Used widely in American and British English. Common in everyday talk when someone does something cringeworthy or goofy.
12. Put your tail between your legs
Meaning: To feel embarrassed, ashamed, or defeated after doing something wrong or failing. It shows someone backing down quietly without arguing.
Example Sentence:
• After his team lost, he put his tail between his legs and left the field.
• She put her tail between her legs after getting a bad grade.
Other ways to say: Feel ashamed, feel defeated, feel embarrassed
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from how dogs behave when they’re scared or ashamed—they tuck their tails between their legs.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in American and British English. Used in sports, school, or anytime someone leaves quietly after messing up.
13. Sweat bullets
Meaning: To feel extremely nervous or embarrassed, often in a stressful moment. It describes both the feeling and the physical signs like sweating.
Example Sentence:
• He was sweating bullets before giving his speech.
• She was sweating bullets when she had to confess to her mistake.
Other ways to say: Feel nervous, feel anxious, be stressed
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase comes from the idea of sweating so much it’s like bullets pouring out—intense stress or fear.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Mostly used in American English. Often said in high-pressure moments like tests, interviews, or public speaking.
14. Wear your heart on your sleeve
Meaning: To openly show your emotions, including shame or sadness. People use it to describe someone who doesn’t hide how they feel.
Example Sentence:
• She wears her heart on her sleeve, so everyone knew she was upset.
• After the argument, he wore his heart on his sleeve and couldn’t hide his feelings.
Other ways to say: Show emotions, be open, wear your emotions
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase may come from knights in the Middle Ages who wore tokens from loved ones on their sleeves.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in American and British English. Often used to describe emotional honesty in teens, artists, or sensitive people.
15. Bite the bullet
Meaning: To do something hard or unpleasant even when you don’t want to. It shows someone choosing to face the tough moment instead of avoiding it.
Example Sentence:
• She had to bite the bullet and apologize after making a mistake.
• He bit the bullet and confessed he had broken the vase.
Other ways to say: Face the challenge, take responsibility, do the tough thing
Fun Fact/Origin: In the past, soldiers bit on bullets during painful surgery to cope without anesthesia.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Very common in American English. Used for both physical and emotional challenges, including awkward or shameful ones.
16. Go red in the face
Meaning: To feel so embarrassed or ashamed that your face turns red. It often happens when someone is caught in an awkward moment.
Example Sentence:
• He went red in the face when his friends teased him about his new haircut.
• She went red in the face after tripping in front of everyone.
Other ways to say: Blush, feel embarrassed, turn pink
Fun Fact/Origin: Blushing happens when blood rushes to the skin on your face, especially during strong emotions.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in American, British, and Australian English. Often used for kids, teens, or anyone caught in a funny or cringey moment.
17. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: To be upset about a mistake or accident that can’t be undone. It tells people to stop worrying and focus on what’s next.
Example Sentence:
• It’s no use crying over spilled milk; just clean it up and move on.
• After making the mistake, he spent too much time crying over spilled milk instead of fixing it.
Other ways to say: Don’t dwell on mistakes, move on, let it go
Fun Fact/Origin: The idea is that once milk is spilled, you can’t put it back—there’s no point in crying about it.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Used across American and British English. Often used by parents, teachers, or coaches to encourage resilience.
18. Pull the wool over someone’s eyes
Meaning: To trick or fool someone so they don’t see the truth. It’s often used when someone lies or hides facts to avoid getting caught.
Example Sentence:
• He tried to pull the wool over his teacher’s eyes by pretending he had finished the project.
• She was caught pulling the wool over her friend’s eyes about the surprise party.
Other ways to say: Trick, deceive, fool
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase likely comes from the days when people wore wool wigs—pulling the “wool” over someone’s eyes would block their view.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in American and British English. Often used when talking about sneaky behavior or mild deception.
19. Feel like a fish out of water
Meaning: To feel uncomfortable, awkward, or out of place. It describes how someone acts when they don’t belong in a situation.
Example Sentence:
• At the new school, he felt like a fish out of water.
• She felt like a fish out of water at the party because she didn’t know anyone.
Other ways to say: Feel awkward, feel out of place, feel uncomfortable
Fun Fact/Origin: A fish out of water flops around and looks lost—just like someone in an unfamiliar place.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common across American, British, and Australian English. Often used when someone starts a new job, school, or joins a new group.
20. Take the blame
Meaning: To admit or accept responsibility for something wrong or embarrassing, even if it’s not all your fault. It shows someone stepping up.
Example Sentence:
• He took the blame for breaking the window, even though it wasn’t his fault.
• She took the blame for the mistake at work.
Other ways to say: Accept responsibility, own up, admit fault
Fun Fact/Origin: “Blame” comes from old Latin and French words meaning to find fault with someone.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Used in American, British, and international English. Common in family, school, or work settings when someone admits to a mistake.
21. Out of the frying pan and into the fire
Meaning: To escape one bad situation only to end up in a worse one. It describes how trying to fix a problem can sometimes backfire.
Example Sentence:
• I thought my job interview was bad, but the next one was out of the frying pan and into the fire.
• She left one bad relationship and found herself out of the frying pan and into the fire with another.
Other ways to say: Get into worse trouble, face bigger problems, get into a worse situation
Fun Fact/Origin: The idea comes from cooking—jumping out of a hot pan and landing in the fire below it is clearly a bad move.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in American and British English. Often used in stories or advice when someone’s solution makes things worse.
22. Get cold feet
Meaning: To become too nervous to go through with something, especially at the last minute. It’s used when someone changes their mind due to fear.
Example Sentence:
• He got cold feet before his big presentation and almost didn’t show up.
• She got cold feet and didn’t want to perform in the play after all.
Other ways to say: Get nervous, feel scared, have doubts
Fun Fact/Origin: It may come from soldiers whose cold feet kept them from moving forward in battle.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Very common in American English, especially in weddings, public speaking, or big decisions. Also heard in British English.
23. A slip of the tongue
Meaning: To say something by mistake, usually without meaning to. It often causes embarrassment or reveals something accidentally.
Example Sentence:
• He made a slip of the tongue and accidentally called his teacher by the wrong name.
• She had a slip of the tongue and accidentally told her friend’s secret.
Other ways to say: Mistake, blunder, say the wrong thing
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom is like the tongue “slipping,” just as feet might slip on ice—it’s quick and unplanned.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Used in American, British, and Australian English. Common in both casual and professional conversations when talking about speech mistakes.
24. Wash your dirty linen in public
Meaning: To share personal or embarrassing problems with others instead of keeping them private. It often makes people around me feel uncomfortable.
Example Sentence:
• They shouldn’t wash their dirty linen in public by arguing in front of everyone.
• It’s not right to wash your dirty linen in public, especially about family issues.
Other ways to say: Air your grievances, discuss personal matters, share private issues
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom comes from when people hand-washed their laundry—dirty clothes were seen as private, not to be aired where others could see.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in British and American English. Often used when family or workplace disagreements are shared too openly.
25. Put the cart before the horse
Meaning: To do things in the wrong order, often leading to confusion or mistakes. It describes jumping ahead before handling the basics.
Example Sentence:
• He put the cart before the horse by buying a new car before paying off his debt.
• She put the cart before the horse when she started decorating the house before finishing the construction.
Other ways to say: Do things backwards, get things mixed up, mess up the order
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase paints a silly picture—horses are supposed to pull carts, not push them.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in American and British English. Often used in business, planning, or everyday decision-making.
26. Behind closed doors
Meaning: To do something privately, where others can’t see or hear it. Often used when decisions are made in secret.
Example Sentence:
• The meeting about the company’s future was held behind closed doors.
• They made their decision behind closed doors, away from public attention.
Other ways to say: In private, secretly, behind the scenes
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase likely comes from the image of a door being shut to keep information hidden inside.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in news, politics, and business in American and British English. Often used to describe secretive or sensitive topics.
27. A bitter pill to swallow
Meaning: Something unpleasant that someone has to accept, like failure or criticism. It often involves embarrassment or disappointment.
Example Sentence:
• Losing the championship was a bitter pill to swallow for the team.
• Being wrong about the project was a bitter pill to swallow for her.
Other ways to say: Hard to accept, tough to deal with, hard to take
Fun Fact/Origin: Bitter medicine is hard to take, even if it’s good for you—just like unpleasant truths.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Used widely in American and British English. Often used when someone learns a lesson or has to accept bad news.
28. Be in hot water
Meaning: To be in trouble, especially because of a mistake or poor choice. It’s used when someone faces consequences for their actions.
Example Sentence:
• He was in hot water after skipping class without permission.
• She got in hot water for being late to the meeting.
Other ways to say: Be in trouble, face consequences, be in a tough spot
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase may come from the discomfort of being placed in hot water—unpleasant and hard to escape.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Very common in American English and also used in British English. Often used at school, work, or home.
29. Burn your bridges
Meaning: To do something that ends a relationship or opportunity forever. It’s used when someone can’t go back after what they’ve done.
Example Sentence:
• He burned his bridges with his old friends by saying hurtful things.
• She burned her bridges with the company by quitting without notice.
Other ways to say: Close a door, ruin a relationship, end things permanently
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from wartime—armies would burn bridges behind them to stop enemies, making retreat impossible.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in both American and British English. Often used in personal relationships or professional settings.
30. Get your wires crossed
Meaning: To misunderstand or mix up information. It’s used when two people have different ideas about what’s happening.
Example Sentence:
• We got our wires crossed and showed up at different times for the meeting.
• She got her wires crossed when she thought the party was on Friday instead of Saturday.
Other ways to say: Misunderstand, get mixed up, be confused
Fun Fact/Origin: It comes from telephone or electric wires getting tangled, causing mixed signals.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in American, British, and Australian English. Often used in casual speech when plans or messages get mixed up.
31. Keep a low profile
Meaning: To stay out of sight or avoid attention, especially after something embarrassing or difficult. It helps people avoid more shame or questions.
Example Sentence:
• After the argument, she decided to keep a low profile at school for a while.
• He kept a low profile after the embarrassing mistake during the game.
Other ways to say: Stay out of sight, stay quiet, avoid attention
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase comes from the idea of literally staying low—like ducking down—to avoid being seen.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in American and British English. Often used in school, work, or media when someone wants to avoid attention after a mistake.
32. Put your foot in it
Meaning: To accidentally say something embarrassing or inappropriate. It happens when someone speaks without thinking.
Example Sentence:
• He put his foot in it when he mentioned his friend’s secret at the party.
• She put her foot in it by commenting on her coworker’s weight.
Other ways to say: Make a mistake, say the wrong thing, embarrass yourself
Fun Fact/Origin: Similar to “put your foot in your mouth,” this British version also means stepping into an awkward situation with your words.
Usage/Cultural Notes: More common in British English than in American. Still understood in the USA, especially in casual talk.
33. A thorn in your side
Meaning: Someone or something that keeps bothering or annoying you over time. It causes stress that doesn’t go away easily.
Example Sentence:
• The constant teasing became a thorn in her side at school.
• He was a thorn in his boss’s side, always making mistakes.
Other ways to say: Be a nuisance, be a problem, cause trouble
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from the image of a thorn stuck in your side—painful and hard to ignore.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Used across American and British English. Common in work, school, and family situations when something keeps going wrong.
34. Cry wolf
Meaning: To ask for help or claim there’s a problem when there isn’t, making people stop believing you. It warns against lying too often.
Example Sentence:
• He cried wolf too many times, so no one believed him when he really needed help.
• She cried wolf about the deadline, but it was just an excuse to get out of work.
Other ways to say: Fake an emergency, lie for attention, give a false alarm
Fun Fact/Origin: Comes from an old fable where a boy falsely warns about a wolf. When danger is real, no one believes him.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Used in American, British, and other English-speaking cultures. Often used with kids, warnings, or news.
35. Cut your losses
Meaning: To stop doing something that’s failing or hurting you, even if it means giving up. It helps avoid more damage or embarrassment.
Example Sentence:
• After failing the test, she decided to cut her losses and study harder for the next one.
• He cut his losses and stopped trying to fix the broken car.
Other ways to say: Stop while you’re ahead, give up, move on
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase comes from business and gambling—people stop investing to avoid losing more money.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in American and British English. Often used in personal choices, business, or relationships.
36. A black mark on your record
Meaning: A mistake or bad event that hurts your reputation and is hard to erase. It stays with you and may affect future chances.
Example Sentence:
• Being late to work was a black mark on his record.
• The cheating incident left a black mark on her school record.
Other ways to say: A stain on your reputation, a bad mark, a flaw
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase comes from literally marking a record with a black mark to show poor behavior or mistakes.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Common in American English, especially in school, work, or law enforcement. Also used in British English with similar meaning.
37. Take the heat
Meaning: To accept blame or deal with harsh criticism, especially when a situation goes badly. It shows someone standing up under pressure.
Example Sentence:
• He took the heat for the team’s poor performance.
• She took the heat when the project failed.
Other ways to say: Face the criticism, take responsibility, bear the brunt
Fun Fact/Origin: “Heat” here refers to pressure or stress—like standing in a hot kitchen or under tough questions.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Very common in American English, especially in sports, politics, or work. Also used in informal British English.
38. Face the music
Meaning: To accept and deal with the consequences of what you did wrong. It’s often used when someone can no longer avoid punishment or truth.
Example Sentence:
• After breaking the rules, he had to face the music and apologize.
• She faced the music when she admitted she had cheated.
Other ways to say: Take responsibility, accept the consequences, deal with the problem
Fun Fact/Origin: This likely comes from military traditions where guilty soldiers had to stand and face the band—symbolizing public judgment.
Usage/Cultural Notes: Widely used in American and British English. Often said in school, work, or legal settings when someone finally owns up.
Quiz: Idioms About Shame
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. What does “get cold feet” mean?
A) To feel nervous or scared
B) To go for a run outside
C) To wear warm socks in the winter
2. If you “cry wolf,” what are you doing?
A) Helping someone in need
B) Lying about something that isn’t true
C) Saving a wolf from danger
3. What does it mean to “put your foot in it”?
A) To step into something messy
B) To say something embarrassing by accident
C) To find a new pair of shoes
4. If someone “burns their bridges,” what have they done?
A) Built something new
B) Ended a relationship or opportunity for good
C) Fixed a problem
5. When you “wash your dirty linen in public,” what are you doing?
A) Doing laundry in front of others
B) Talking about your personal problems in front of others
C) Wearing dirty clothes
6. If you’re “in hot water,” what does that mean?
A) You’re relaxing in a hot tub
B) You’re in trouble
C) You’re cleaning the dishes
7. What is a “slip of the tongue”?
A) Saying something by accident
B) Slipping while walking
C) Talking in your sleep
8. To “keep a low profile” means what?
A) To be loud and attention-seeking
B) To stay quiet and avoid attention
C) To tell everyone your secrets
9. If you “cut your losses,” what are you doing?
A) Giving up on something that isn’t working
B) Cutting something into pieces
C) Making a profit
10. What does it mean to “face the music”?
A) To listen to a song
B) To accept the consequences of your actions
C) To sing a song at a concert
Answer Key
- A) To feel nervous or scared
- B) Lying about something that isn’t true
- B) To say something embarrassing by accident
- B) Ended a relationship or opportunity for good
- B) Talking about your personal problems in front of others
- B) You’re in trouble
- A) Saying something by accident
- B) To stay quiet and avoid attention
- A) Giving up on something that isn’t working
- B) To accept the consequences of your actions
Wrapping Up
Idioms about shame help us talk about tough or embarrassing moments in a way that feels natural. In everyday American conversations—whether at school, at home, or with friends—these phrases give us simple ways to express big feelings. Instead of saying, “I messed up,” you might say, “I had egg on my face,” and people will instantly get what you mean.
Now that you’ve learned these expressions, try listening for them in real conversations or using one when the moment fits. The more you hear and use idioms, the more they’ll become part of how you think and speak. Keep it going, you’re on the right track.
