Eat dirt
verb phrase
To accept humiliation or insult.
If you mess this up, you'll have to eat dirt in front of everyone.
Often appears as...
- eat dirt in front of
- made him eat dirt
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To fall down, usually in sports or physical activities.
While skating, I lost my balance and ate dirt.
Often appears as...
- eat dirt while skating
- eat dirt after trip
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
verb phrase
To compete without concern for cleanliness or ethics, doing whatever it takes to succeed.
In business you sometimes have to eat dirt to get ahead.
Often appears as...
- eat dirt in business
- eat dirt to succeed
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To accept humiliation or insult.
If you mess this up, you'll have to eat dirt in front of everyone.
Often appears as...
- eat dirt in front of
- made him eat dirt
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
verb phrase
To fall down, usually in sports or physical activities.
While skating, I lost my balance and ate dirt.
Often appears as...
- eat dirt while skating
- eat dirt after trip
Usage tips
Informal
Colloquial
verb phrase
To compete without concern for cleanliness or ethics, doing whatever it takes to succeed.
In business you sometimes have to eat dirt to get ahead.
Often appears as...
- eat dirt in business
- eat dirt to succeed
Usage tips
Informal
Idiomatic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Humiliation Emphasis
The phrase is often used to highlight a strong sense of humiliation or embarrassment.
After losing the debate, he had to eat dirt.
Pro Tip 2/3Power Dynamics
Usually implies a power imbalance where the person eating dirt is in a lower position.
The boss's criticism made her eat dirt.
Pro Tip 3/3Confrontational Contexts
Often used in contexts where there's a confrontation or a mistake has been made.
He talked big but ended up eating dirt.
Pro Tip 1/3Humiliation Emphasis
The phrase is often used to highlight a strong sense of humiliation or embarrassment.
After losing the debate, he had to eat dirt.
Pro Tip 2/3Power Dynamics
Usually implies a power imbalance where the person eating dirt is in a lower position.
The boss's criticism made her eat dirt.
Pro Tip 3/3Confrontational Contexts
Often used in contexts where there's a confrontation or a mistake has been made.
He talked big but ended up eating dirt.
Pro Tip 1/3Humiliation Emphasis
The phrase is often used to highlight a strong sense of humiliation or embarrassment.
After losing the debate, he had to eat dirt.
Pro Tip 2/3Power Dynamics
Usually implies a power imbalance where the person eating dirt is in a lower position.
The boss's criticism made her eat dirt.
Pro Tip 3/3Confrontational Contexts
Often used in contexts where there's a confrontation or a mistake has been made.
He talked big but ended up eating dirt.
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