食しょく言げん

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

eat one's words; break a promise

Formal or literary expression for going back on one's word or failing to keep a promise. Often used in serious contexts.

• 彼かれは公こう約やくを守まもらず、食しょく言げんした。

  He broke his promise and ate his words.

• 政せい治じ家かの食しょく言げんは有ゆう権けん者しゃの信しん頼らいを損そこなう。

  A politician's broken promises undermine voters' trust.