# eat the onion

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/eat-the-onion
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To unwittingly and erroneously interpret a work of satire as literal fact, particularly a piece published by The Onion.

## Examples

- He ate the onion and shared the fake news on his wall.
- I felt embarrassed when I realized I had eaten the onion after posting that satire article as real news.
- The journalist lost all credibility when he ate the onion, citing a satirical headline as evidence for his serious political report.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.