eat one’s words真的是“食言”吗？

许多人把“食言”说成eat one’s words,真的是这样吗？其实eat one’s word是“承认自己前面说的话是错的收回前言”之意。真正的“食言、失信”是go back on one's word; break one's promise:

· 如果他答应帮忙， 他就不会食言。

If he promised to help, he will not go back on his promise.

· 他答应把书留给我之后， 却食言而把它卖给了别人。

After promising to keep the book for me, he broke his word and sold it to someone else.

他又食言了。

遵守诺言，keep one’s word.

He had again failed to keep his word.

如果他答应帮忙，他就不会食言。

If he promised to help, he will not go back on his promise.

对不起，我失信了。

I am sorry that I broke my promise.

十之八九他失信了。

Most likely he has broken his promise.

韦尔斯本应当出一半的钱，但后来他食言了。

Wells was supposed to put up half the money, but later backed out.

他本答应二月份替俱乐部打球，但他食言了。

He welched on his agreement with the club that he would play for them in February.

He has had to eat his words about the company being recession-proof.

他不得不收回他说过的公司能免受经济衰退影响的话。