Is 'stew in one's own juice' formal or informal?

It is informal and often sounds rude or sarcastic.

Is it the same as 'brood'?

Not exactly. 'Brood' means think sadly or angrily. This idiom adds punishment or spite.

Can I use it in IELTS writing?

Use it carefully. It is vivid, but it may sound too informal for academic writing.

← Dictionary

to-stew-in-one's-own-juice

/tə ˌstjuː ɪn wʌnz əʊn dʒuːs/

IELTSAcademic

idiom

To stay unhappy, angry, or embarrassed about your own problem without getting help. It often suggests that the person should think about what they did and feel the result for a while.

He can stew in his own juice for a day.
Don’t help him; let him stew in his own juice.
She left him to stew in his own juice.

Adinary Nuance

This idiom is more rude and less neutral than words like 'reflect' or 'think.' It is close to 'wallow' and 'brood', but it usually adds the idea that someone deserves the discomfort. Writers use it when they want a sharp, annoyed tone.

In other languages

Vietnamese: tự chịu hậu quả
Spanish: sufrir las consecuencias
Chinese: 自作自受
Japanese: 自業自得
Korean: 자업자득

Etymology

This old English idiom uses stew in the sense of 'simmer' or 'be left sitting in liquid.' It appeared in English by the 19th century, with the figurative meaning of brooding alone.

Common phrases

let someone stew in their own juicestew in his own juicestew in her own juice

Synonyms

brood wallow sulk

Related words

anger resentment punishment

Frequently asked questions

Is 'stew in one's own juice' formal or informal?: It is informal and often sounds rude or sarcastic.
Is it the same as 'brood'?: Not exactly. 'Brood' means think sadly or angrily. This idiom adds punishment or spite.
Can I use it in IELTS writing?: Use it carefully. It is vivid, but it may sound too informal for academic writing.