eat the leek

English

Etymology

From Act V, scene I between Fluellen and Pistol in Shakespeare's play Henry V.

Verb

eat the leek (third-person singular simple present eats the leek, present participle eating the leek, simple past ate the leek, past participle eaten the leek)

1. To be compelled to take back one's words or put up with insulting treatment.
   • 1919, Stanley J. Weyman, “XXXV My Lord Speaks Out”, in The Great House:

     He had eaten his leek and he was anxious to be done with it.