don/wear sackcloth and ashes
phrase
: to publicly express or show sorrow or regret for having done something wrong
He should be forced to wear sackcloth and ashes and apologize for his lies.
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“Don/wear sackcloth and ashes.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/don%2Fwear%20sackcloth%20and%20ashes. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
