guilt trip

USAGE SUMMARY

"guilt trip" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which someone attempts to make another person feel guilty for something by implying or expressing disapproval. For example, "My mom tried to give me a guilt trip for not coming home for the holidays."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

The guilt trip works.

The New York Times - Books

The Guilt Trip, $5.4m.

The Guardian - Film

I did, like, the super guilt trip.

The Guardian - Music

"I'm not on a guilt trip.

The New York Times

So, enough of the guilt trip.

The Guardian - Opinion

(The guilt trip is a key Loeser tactic).

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Who will guilt-trip the others into making an album?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"Free food samples are designed to guilt-trip people into making a purchase.

The New York Times

Feminists accused Ms. Wallerstein of trying to guilt-trip women into staying in destructive marriages.

The New York Times - Health

"But you can kind to try to guilt-trip people with this kind of thing".

The New York Times

In fact, I often have to guilt-trip myself into sitting down to write.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "guilt trip" when you want to describe a specific instance of someone trying to make another person feel guilty, especially through manipulation or emotional pressure. It is often used to describe situations where the guilt is unwarranted or exaggerated.

Common error

Avoid labeling situations as a "guilt trip" simply because someone expresses regret or sadness. Ensure that there's a manipulative intent or an attempt to control behavior before using the term.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "guilt trip" functions primarily as a noun, referring to an instance or a period of inducing guilt in someone, often through manipulative tactics. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and widespread use, evident in the examples provided.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

20%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "guilt trip" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the act of inducing guilt in someone, frequently through manipulation. Ludwig AI, based on its analysis of numerous sources, confirms its widespread usage. Primarily found in news and media, as well as informal contexts like Wiki, the phrase serves to identify and describe situations where someone attempts to make another person feel guilty, whether intentionally or unintentionally. While "guilt trip" is generally acceptable, it is important to avoid mislabeling genuine expressions of remorse as manipulative tactics.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

playing on someone's conscience

Directly addresses the target's sense of right and wrong, which is central to the effectiveness of a "guilt trip".

making someone feel responsible

Highlights the attempt to instill a sense of accountability, which can be part of a "guilt trip".

imposing a sense of guilt

Focuses on the action of making someone feel guilty, removing the specific context of a "trip".

inducing shame

Focuses on causing a feeling of disgrace or dishonor, a frequent consequence of a "guilt trip".

instilling remorse

Highlights the goal of causing regret, a common outcome sought through a "guilt trip".

laying blame

Emphasizes the act of assigning responsibility for something negative, a key component of a "guilt trip".

applying emotional pressure

Highlights the use of feelings to influence someone, the subtle force that implies taking a "guilt trip".

creating a sense of obligation

Focuses on the feeling of being bound to do something, often used to influence behavior, a part of a "guilt trip".

emotional manipulation

Captures the manipulative aspect often associated with "guilt trip" tactics, though broader in scope.

making someone feel bad

A more direct and general way to describe the effect of a "guilt trip", lacking the nuance of manipulation.

FAQs

How to use "guilt trip" in a sentence?

You can use "guilt trip" to describe someone making you feel guilty, for example: "My mother tried to lay a "guilt trip" on me for not visiting often enough." It can also describe the feeling itself: "I'm on a "guilt trip" because I forgot my friend's birthday".

What can I say instead of "guilt trip"?

You can use alternatives like "imposing a sense of guilt", "emotional manipulation", or "playing on someone's conscience" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "give someone a guilt trip"?

Yes, it is correct. "Give someone a "guilt trip"" means to make someone feel guilty, often to persuade them to do something. For instance, "She tried to give him a "guilt trip" by reminding him how much she had sacrificed for him".

What's the difference between a "guilt trip" and genuine remorse?

A "guilt trip" typically involves manipulation to induce guilt in someone else, often for personal gain or to control their behavior. Genuine remorse, on the other hand, is a sincere feeling of regret for one's actions without an intent to manipulate others.