wear sackcloth and ashes

idiomPart ofash

wear sackcloth and ashes — idiom

1. to act in an exaggerated, public way that shows you regret something you did wro

1.idiom
Definition

to act in an exaggerated, public way that shows you regret something you did wrong.

Example

The minister apologised in parliament but refused to wear sackcloth and ashes over a single mistake.

She admitted her error without needing to wear sackcloth and ashes for weeks afterwards.