guilt trip, n. colloq. (orig. U.S.).
Brit. /ˈgɪlt trɪp/, U.S. /ˈgɪlt ˌtrɪp/
[‹ guilt n. + trip n.1]
An episode of severe, often excessive or unjustified self-reproach, esp. one deliberately provoked by another person; a state of mind in which a person is preoccupied by overriding feelings of guilt. Also: an attempt to instil such feelings in a person. Freq. in to lay a guilt trip on.
| 1972 J. Rossner Any Minute I can Split 174, I want to make it clear that nobody's sending me on any guilt trip over my money. 1978 H. Selby Requiem for Dream 147 You start laying guilt trips on me and I don't need it, okay? 1984 C. Boylan Last Resorts xiv. 159 Mum, don't lay a guilt trip on us. 1995 J. F. Garner Once upon more Enlightened Time 13 Ever the master of the guilt-trip, he finally said, ‘And this is how you kids repay me?’ 2001 Jerusalem Post (Electronic ed.) 1 May 10 Everyone in my family has a tendency toward manipulative behavior, but it's going beyond that. I can't begin to describe the guilt trip each one separately is laying on me! |