Meaning of acknowledge the corn | Babel Free

Definitions

To admit to the truth of the point at issue or to a mistake; to cop a plea; or perhaps to admit to a small error but not a larger one.

archaic, idiomatic

Examples

“I hope he will give up the argument, or to use a familiar phrase acknowledge the corn.”

“1859, J. Underwood, letter to the editor, Samuel W. Cole (editor), The New England Farmer, Volume 11, I should like to take a job of that kind on a wager with him, or any other New Hampshire man, and if I did not come out a little ahead on the "home stretch," why then I would "acknowledge the corn," and own myself beaten.”

“Will the hon. gentleman acknowledge the corn? He does not do it. He is non-committal.”

“They had simply to "acknowledge the corn," round up, and — "vamoose"; then, so soon as the soldiers had gone back to the fort, there was no law to prevent their returning.”

CEFR level