Sometimes we feel bad after doing something wrong. This feeling is called guilt. It can happen if we hurt someone, break a rule, or keep a secret that makes us uncomfortable. People have made many phrases, called idioms, to talk about guilt in different ways. These idioms help us understand feelings better and talk about them more clearly.
In this lesson, you will learn idioms that describe guilt. Each one has a meaning and an example to show how it’s used in real life. These phrases are often heard in books, conversations, and shows. By learning them, you’ll get better at understanding what others mean and how to express your own feelings.
Idioms for Guilt
1. Cry over spilled milk
Meaning: Feeling sorry about something that already happened and cannot be changed.
Sample Sentences: She cried over spilled milk when she lost her homework. / There’s no use crying over spilled milk after the game is over.
Other Way to Say: Don’t worry about the past / It’s too late to change it
2. Missed the boat
Meaning: Missed a chance to do something important.
Sample Sentences: I missed the boat on signing up for the soccer team. / He missed the boat when he forgot to ask for help.
Other Way to Say: Lost the opportunity / Too late to join
3. Eat your words
Meaning: Feel sorry for saying something wrong.
Sample Sentences: He had to eat his words after saying he would win the race. / I ate my words when the test was harder than I thought.
Other Way to Say: Say sorry / Take back what you said
4. Kick yourself
Meaning: Feel upset about a mistake you made.
Sample Sentences: I kicked myself for not studying harder for the test. / She kicked herself after missing the bus.
Other Way to Say: Blame yourself / Be mad at yourself
5. Face the music
Meaning: Accept the consequences of your actions.
Sample Sentences: He had to face the music after breaking the window. / I faced the music when my teacher saw my late homework.
Other Way to Say: Take responsibility / Deal with the problem
6. A hard pill to swallow
Meaning: Something difficult to accept or admit.
Sample Sentences: Not making the team was a hard pill to swallow. / It was a hard pill to swallow when I got a bad grade.
Other Way to Say: Tough to accept / Hard to believe
7. Burned your bridges
Meaning: Ruined a chance to fix something or go back.
Sample Sentences: He burned his bridges by quitting the club without telling anyone. / I burned my bridges when I said mean things to my friend.
Other Way to Say: Closed the door / Lost your chance
8. Dug your own grave
Meaning: Caused your own problems.
Sample Sentences: She dug her own grave by not finishing her homework. / I dug my own grave when I lied about where I was.
Other Way to Say: Made your own trouble / Caused your own problem
9. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: Accidentally told a secret.
Sample Sentences: I let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party. / She let the cat out of the bag about the trip.
Other Way to Say: Spilled the secret / Told by mistake
10. Put your foot in your mouth
Meaning: Said something embarrassing or wrong.
Sample Sentences: I put my foot in my mouth when I made a joke that upset someone. / He put his foot in his mouth during the speech.
Other Way to Say: Said the wrong thing / Made a mistake talking
11. Blew it
Meaning: Made a big mistake and missed a chance.
Sample Sentences: I blew it by forgetting my lines in the play. / She blew it when she missed the shot in the game.
Other Way to Say: Messed up / Lost the chance
12. Second thoughts
Meaning: Feeling unsure or regret about a choice.
Sample Sentences: I had second thoughts about quitting the team. / She had second thoughts after saying no to the trip.
Other Way to Say: Changed your mind / Feeling unsure
13. Made your bed, now lie in it
Meaning: You caused the problem, now you must deal with it.
Sample Sentences: I didn’t study and failed the test. I made my bed, now I have to lie in it. / He lost the game because he didn’t practice. He made his bed, now he must deal with it.
Other Way to Say: Accept the results / Face the consequences
14. Hung out to dry
Meaning: Left alone to face trouble or blame.
Sample Sentences: My friends left me hung out to dry when I got in trouble. / I felt hung out to dry when no one helped me with the project.
Other Way to Say: Left alone / No one helped me
15. Biting the hand that feeds you
Meaning: Being unkind to someone who helps you, then feeling sorry.
Sample Sentences: He bit the hand that feeds him when he was rude to his coach. / I bit the hand that feeds me when I yelled at my mom.
Other Way to Say: Hurt someone who helps you / Be ungrateful
16. Felt the sting
Meaning: Felt hurt or regret.
Sample Sentences: I felt the sting when my friend didn’t invite me. / She felt the sting after losing the game.
Other Way to Say: Felt bad / Hurt inside
17. Like salt in the wound
Meaning: Made a bad situation worse.
Sample Sentences: Forgetting my lines was bad, but laughing made it like salt in the wound. / Losing the game and then getting scolded was like salt in the wound.
Other Way to Say: Made it worse / Added to the pain
18. Beat yourself up
Meaning: Keep blaming yourself for a mistake.
Sample Sentences: Don’t beat yourself up about losing the game. / I beat myself up for forgetting my homework.
Other Way to Say: Be too hard on yourself / Keep blaming yourself
19. Could kick yourself
Meaning: Feel very annoyed about a small mistake.
Sample Sentences: I could kick myself for leaving my lunch at home. / She could kick herself for missing the bus.
Other Way to Say: Really mad at yourself / Upset about a mistake
20. Out of line
Meaning: Said or did something wrong.
Sample Sentences: He was out of line when he shouted at his friend. / I was out of line when I took the last cookie.
Other Way to Say: Went too far / Shouldn’t have done that
21. Spoke too soon
Meaning: Said something before knowing all the facts.
Sample Sentences: I spoke too soon when I said the test was easy. / She spoke too soon about the party being canceled.
Other Way to Say: Said it early / Judged too fast
22. Made a mess of it
Meaning: Did something badly or wrong.
Sample Sentences: I made a mess of my science project. / She made a mess of the group presentation.
Other Way to Say: Messed up / Did it wrong
23. Not your proudest moment
Meaning: Did something you feel bad about.
Sample Sentences: Yelling at my friend was not my proudest moment. / Forgetting my homework was not my proudest moment.
Other Way to Say: Made a mistake / Wish it didn’t happen
24. Thought twice
Meaning: Rethink or regret a choice.
Sample Sentences: I should have thought twice before quitting the team. / He thought twice after saying something mean.
Other Way to Say: Changed your mind / Had second thoughts
25. Said too much
Meaning: Shared more than you should have.
Sample Sentences: I said too much about the surprise party. / She said too much during the argument.
Other Way to Say: Talked too much / Overshared
26. Rethinking everything
Meaning: Looking back and feeling unsure about your decisions.
Sample Sentences: I’m rethinking everything after missing my test. / She was rethinking everything after the fight.
Other Way to Say: Looking back / Feeling unsure
27. Out of character
Meaning: Acted in a way that is not like you, and feel bad about it.
Sample Sentences: I was out of character when I yelled at my mom. / She acted out of character and said sorry.
Other Way to Say: Not like me / Made a mistake in behavior
28. Ran out of time
Meaning: Didn’t finish something and wished for more time.
Sample Sentences: I ran out of time on the test and didn’t finish. / He ran out of time building his model.
Other Way to Say: Needed more time / Didn’t finish
29. Not thinking straight
Meaning: Made a bad choice because you were confused or upset.
Sample Sentences: I wasn’t thinking straight when I lied. / She wasn’t thinking straight and said something hurtful.
Other Way to Say: Mixed up / Didn’t think clearly
30. Didn’t mean to
Meaning: Did something wrong by accident.
Sample Sentences: I didn’t mean to break your toy. / He didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.
Other Way to Say: It was a mistake / I’m sorry
31. Backfired
Meaning: A plan went wrong and caused problems for you.
Sample Sentences: My joke backfired and made people upset. / Her plan to skip practice backfired when she got in trouble.
Other Way to Say: Didn’t work out / Made things worse
32. Got carried away
Meaning: Went too far and then felt sorry.
Sample Sentences: I got carried away teasing my brother. / She got carried away and broke the rule.
Other Way to Say: Went too far / Overdid it
33. Fell flat
Meaning: Something you tried didn’t work and you regret it.
Sample Sentences: My joke fell flat and no one laughed. / The surprise party idea fell flat.
Other Way to Say: Didn’t work / Failed
34. The damage is done
Meaning: It’s too late to fix a mistake.
Sample Sentences: I said something mean. The damage is done. / He knocked over the vase. The damage is done.
Other Way to Say: Can’t undo it / It already happened
35. In hot water
Meaning: In trouble because of a bad choice.
Sample Sentences: I was in hot water for forgetting my homework. / She got in hot water after lying.
Other Way to Say: In trouble / Got caught
36. On thin ice
Meaning: Close to getting into more trouble.
Sample Sentences: After skipping class, he’s on thin ice. / I’m on thin ice after being late again.
Other Way to Say: Close to punishment / One more mistake and I’m in trouble
37. Left with nothing
Meaning: Tried something but got a bad result.
Sample Sentences: I spent all my points and was left with nothing. / He traded cards and was left with nothing good.
Other Way to Say: Lost it all / Got a bad deal
38. Felt small
Meaning: Felt embarrassed or ashamed.
Sample Sentences: I felt small after yelling at my friend. / He felt small when the teacher corrected him.
Other Way to Say: Felt bad / Felt ashamed
39. Went too far
Meaning: Did more than you should have.
Sample Sentences: My joke went too far and hurt feelings. / He went too far with his prank.
Other Way to Say: Crossed the line / Shouldn’t have done that
40. Thought I knew better
Meaning: Regret because you acted like you knew more than you did.
Sample Sentences: I thought I knew better and didn’t study. / She thought she knew better and didn’t listen.
Other Way to Say: Was too sure / Ignored advice
41. Hindsight is 20/20
Meaning: It’s easy to see the right choice after something happens.
Sample Sentences: I should have studied hindsight is 20/20. / She said yes too fast hindsight is 20/20.
Other Way to Say: I see it clearly now / I learned from it
42. Felt the weight
Meaning: Felt pressure or guilt from something you did.
Sample Sentences: I felt the weight of letting my team down. / He felt the weight after missing the bus.
Other Way to Say: Felt heavy inside / Felt bad about it
43. Took the fall
Meaning: Got blamed and felt sorry for it.
Sample Sentences: I took the fall for the mess in class. / She took the fall when the team got caught.
Other Way to Say: Got blamed / Paid the price
44. Blurted it out
Meaning: Said something too fast and felt bad.
Sample Sentences: I blurted it out without thinking. / He blurted out the answer and got it wrong.
Other Way to Say: Spoke too soon / Said it too fast
45. Regret it deeply
Meaning: Feel very sorry about something.
Sample Sentences: I regret it deeply that I didn’t tell the truth. / She regrets it deeply for missing the show.
Other Way to Say: Very sorry / Wish it didn’t happen
46. Biting off more than you can chew
Meaning: Took on more than you could handle and felt sorry.
Sample Sentences: I bit off more than I could chew by joining three clubs. / She bit off more than she could chew with chores.
Other Way to Say: Took on too much / Tried too hard
47. Shouldn’t have opened my mouth
Meaning: Regret saying something you shouldn’t have.
Sample Sentences: I shouldn’t have opened my mouth about the secret. / He wished he hadn’t opened his mouth during the fight.
Other Way to Say: Kept quiet / Stayed out of it
48. Opened a can of worms
Meaning: Started a problem that got worse.
Sample Sentences: I opened a can of worms by asking too many questions. / She opened a can of worms by telling a small lie.
Other Way to Say: Made things worse / Caused a mess
49. A day late and a dollar short
Meaning: Too late and not prepared.
Sample Sentences: He was a day late and a dollar short for the contest. / I was a day late and a dollar short with my project.
Other Way to Say: Missed the mark / Unprepared and late
50. Shot yourself in the foot
Meaning: Did something that hurt your chances.
Sample Sentences: I shot myself in the foot by skipping practice. / He shot himself in the foot by being rude to the coach.
Other Way to Say: Hurt your own chances / Made it harder for yourself
51. Said too much
Meaning: Shared more than you should have and felt bad.
Sample Sentences: I said too much at lunch and now feel bad. / She said too much during the game and upset her friend.
Other Way to Say: Overshared / Talked too much
52. Thought twice
Meaning: Rethought or regretted a decision.
Sample Sentences: I should have thought twice before quitting the team. / He thought twice after his joke hurt someone.
Other Way to Say: Had second thoughts / Changed your mind too late
53. Beat yourself up
Meaning: Keep blaming yourself over and over.
Sample Sentences: I beat myself up for losing the spelling bee. / Don’t beat yourself up; it was just one mistake.
Other Way to Say: Be too hard on yourself / Keep blaming yourself
54. Not your proudest moment
Meaning: Did something you feel bad about.
Sample Sentences: Yelling at my friend was not my proudest moment. / Skipping class was not his proudest moment.
Other Way to Say: Made a mistake / Wish it didn’t happen
55. Rethinking everything
Meaning: Looking back and feeling unsure about your choices.
Sample Sentences: After the bad grade, I’m rethinking everything about how I studied. / He was rethinking everything after the argument.
Other Way to Say: Looking back / Feeling unsure
Multiple Choice Questions: Idioms for Guilt
1. What does it mean to “have a guilty conscience”?
A. You are proud of your work
B. You feel bad about something you did
C. You don’t remember what happened
2. If someone says they’re “carrying a heavy burden,” what are they likely feeling?
A. Tired from lifting boxes
B. Full from eating too much
C. Bad because of guilt or regret
3. What happens when someone is “caught red-handed”?
A. They are caught doing something wrong
B. They’re helping a friend
C. They’re winning a game
4. What does it mean to “beat yourself up” over a mistake?
A. You trip and fall
B. You blame yourself again and again
C. You fight with someone else
5. When someone “owns up to it,” what are they doing?
A. Saying sorry and telling the truth
B. Taking something that isn’t theirs
C. Ignoring the problem
6. If something is “on your conscience,” what does it mean?
A. You forgot your homework
B. You keep thinking about something you did wrong
C. You want to go to sleep
7. What does it mean to “face the music”?
A. Go to a concert
B. Listen to your favorite song
C. Accept the consequences for your actions
8. Why would someone “bite their tongue”?
A. To stop themselves from saying something mean or wrong
B. Because they’re eating candy
C. Because they’re playing a game
9. What does it mean to “have a knot in your stomach”?
A. You ate something too fast
B. You feel nervous or guilty
C. You’re excited about dinner
10. If you “throw someone under the bus,” what are you doing?
A. Helping them cross the street
B. Blaming them to avoid trouble
C. Giving them a ride
11. What happens when you “get something off your chest”?
A. You share a secret or admit guilt
B. You drop a heavy box
C. You take off your sweater
12. What does it mean when someone says they’re “losing sleep over it”?
A. They are sleeping in
B. They stay up late for fun
C. They feel so guilty they can’t sleep
Answer Key
- B. You feel bad about something you did
- C. Bad because of guilt or regret
- A. They are caught doing something wrong
- B. You blame yourself again and again
- A. Saying sorry and telling the truth
- B. You keep thinking about something you did wrong
- C. Accept the consequences for your actions
- A. To stop themselves from saying something mean or wrong
- B. You feel nervous or guilty
- B. Blaming them to avoid trouble
- A. You share a secret or admit guilt
- C. They feel so guilty they can’t sleep
Scoring Guide
- 12 Correct Answers: Love Idiom Master!
You really understand how guilt idioms are used. - 8–11 Correct Answers: Well on your way to understanding love idioms.
You know a lot already just a few more to go! - 4–7 Correct Answers: Room for improvement, but you’re getting there!
Keep learning and practicing. - 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s explore the world of love idioms together.
Don’t worry this is a great place to start learning.
Conclusion
Understanding idioms about guilt helps us talk about feelings in a clearer way. These expressions show how people handle mistakes, regrets, and doing the right thing after something goes wrong.
Now that you know many of these idioms, you can spot them in books, shows, or everyday talk. The more you practice using them, the easier it will be to understand and explain how you feel.
