Spell Bee Word: meaculpa

Basic Details

Word: Mea culpa

Part of Speech: Noun (phrase)

Meaning: An acknowledgment of one's fault or error; a personal confession of wrongdoing.

Synonyms: Apology, admission of guilt

Antonyms: Denial, unaccountability

Idioms and Phrases

1. Mea culpa! Used to admit one's own fault or wrongdoing. Example: "When I realised I had forgotten your birthday, I said, 'Mea culpa! It was my mistake.'
2. Take the blame, make a mea culpa: A phrase used when one accepts responsibility for a mistake. Example: "After the project failed, the manager decided to take the blame and make a mea culpa."

Usage Examples

Example 1: After the error in the report, she made a mea culpa during the team meeting to admit her oversight.

Example 2: The politician issued a public mea culpa for his comments that offended many people.

Example 3: Saying "mea culpa" showed that he was willing to take responsibility for his actions.

Fun Fact

The phrase "mea culpa" comes from Latin, meaning "through my fault." It is often used in religious contexts, particularly within Christianity, to signify repentance and acknowledgment of one's sins.

Famous Quote

"Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them." – Bruce Lee. This ties back to the principle of 'mea culpa.'

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. What does "mea culpa" mean?

a) A celebration
b) A type of food
c) An acknowledgment of one's fault
d) A military term

Answer: c) An acknowledgment of one's fault

2. Which of these is a synonym of "mea culpa"?

a) Denial
b) Admission of guilt
c) Celebration
d) Success

Answer: b) Admission of guilt

3. Which of the following is an antonym of "mea culpa"?

a) Acknowledgment
b) Denial
c) Sorry
d) Acceptance

Answer: b) Denial

4. Which sentence correctly uses "mea culpa"?

a) She made a loud mea culpa in the concert.
b) He issued a mea culpa after forgetting his friend's name.
c) The dog posed for a mea culpa poster.
d) She sung a mea culpa in the theatre.

Answer: b) He issued a mea culpa after forgetting his friend's name.

5. Which idiom means to admit one's fault like "mea culpa"?

a) To pass the buck
b) To take the blame
c) To look the other way
d) To let bygones be bygones

Answer: b) To take the blame