Fig.: to admit one's error and apologize; to submit to humiliation

My family thought that I could never organize such an event, but I made them eat humble pie when they saw how successful it was

I miei credevano che non sarei mai riuscita a organizzare un ricevimento in grande stile, ma han dovuto mangiare pan pentito davanti alla splendida riuscita della serata

The economic situation got so desperate that the workers on strike had to eat humble pie and accept something they thought they'd never settle for

La situazione economica si era fatta talmente disperata che i lavoratori in sciopero han dovuto chinare il capo e scendere a patti che in altri momenti non avrebbero mai accettato

The home team coach had to eat humble pie and apologize publicly for his highly inappropriate comments about some players of the opposing team

L'allenatore della squadra di casa si è dovuto cospargere il capo di cenere e chiedere pubblicamente scusa per i commenti pesantemente inappropriati su alcuni giocatori avversari

In Medieval times the "numbles" were the heart, liver and entrails of the deer. "A numble pie" or, as it was spelled later, "an umble pie" was served to servants and hunters, while the host and guests were served the finest cuts of venison. The person eating "umble pie" was therefore inferior and this fact, together with the confusion with the totally unrelated word humble, gave rise to the present meaning of the expression