Fig.: to admit one is wrong and humbly make amends

The situation for John was embarrassing, but he decided to eat crow and tell the truth

La situazione per Giovanni si era fatta molto imbarazzante, ma decise di ingoiare il rospo e dire la verità

Betty bragged about winning the beauty contest, but when she came in last she had to eat crow

Betty andava dicendo a tutti che avrebbe vinto il concorso di bellezza, ma quando è arrivata ultima ha dovuto ingoiare il rospo

I was rear-ended in my driveway and should be compensated, but since it was my daughter's boyfriend who did it, I'm afraid I'll have to eat crow and pay for both his and my damages

Sono stato tamponato nel vialetto di casa e dovrei essere risarcito, ma dato che il responsabile è il ragazzo di mia figlia, ho paura che dovrò ingoiare il rospo e pagare il mio e il suo danno

The true origin of this expression is unknown, but according to an account in 1888 issue of the ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, everything started along the Niagara River during an armistice toward the end of the 1812 war. A young New Englander went hunting and, unaware he had crossed the enemy lines, shot and killed a crow. A British officer heard the shot and decided to punish the Yankee, but he was unarmed, so he complimented the young soldier on his fine shooting and asked to take a look at the gun. As soon as the American handed it over, the redcoat pointed the arm at him, told him he was guilty of trespassing and, as punishment, forced him to eat a piece of the crow. The young American ate it pretending to be very humble, but when the British officer returned the gun, in an instant the tables were turned: the officer was on his knees being forced to eat the rest of the crow