wear sackcloth and ashes
To publicly express regret for something done wrong.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He wears sackcloth and ashes for his mistake.”
“After the scandal broke, the politician appeared on television to wear sackcloth and ashes for his poor decisions.”
“The disgraced executive stood before the board of directors to wear sackcloth and ashes, hoping his public display of remorse would save his career.”
From the Bible Book of Esther 4:1 "When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly".
- 01
clash of the ash
hurling (the sport)
- 02
dine on ashes
To mope over past defeats or failures.
- 03
does the Pope wear a funny hat
Obviously! Rhetorical question in response to a question where the answer is an emphatic yes.
- 04
if the shoe fits, wear it
If a description fits, it is probably the case; if an insult accurately describes you, you must bear it; if you take offence at an insult that was only implicitly directed at you, you admit the insult is true enough to be recognizable.
- 05
wear one's heart on one's sleeve
To be very transparent, open, or forthright about one's emotions.
- 06
wear out one's welcome
To behave in an offensive, burdensome, or tiresome manner, with the result that one's continued presence is unwanted within a residence, commercial establishment, or social group.
- 07
wear rose-colored glasses
To see the positive in things while being oblivious to the negative.
- 08
wear the trousers
(typically of a woman) To be the dominant partner in a relationship.
Last updated August 10, 2026