Definition

Noun: 1. A feeling of guilt or remorse, especially one that is induced by another person: A state of distress or self-reproach caused by believing one is at fault for a wrongdoing. Often, this feeling is deliberately provoked by someone else's words or actions to manipulate behavior.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She gave me such a guilt trip for forgetting her birthday that I bought her an expensive gift.
  • Don't lay a guilt trip on me just because I want to spend the weekend alone.
  • He's on a guilt trip after realizing how his comments hurt his friend.

Advanced Usage

• "To lay/put a guilt trip on someone": This is the most common verbal phrase associated with the noun. It means to deliberately make someone feel guilty in order to control their actions or get what you want.
  • My parents always try to lay a guilt trip on me when I don't visit often enough.
• "To be on a guilt trip": To be actively experiencing strong feelings of guilt, often self-imposed or after being manipulated.
  • She's been on a guilt trip ever since she had to cancel the trip.

Variants and Related Words

• Guilt-trip (verb): The act of causing someone to feel guilty in this manipulative way. (Note: This is a compound verb derived from the noun phrase).
  • He tried to guilt-trip me into lending him money.
• Guilt (noun): The simpler, more general feeling of having committed a wrong or failed an obligation.
• Remorse (noun): Deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed.

Synonyms

• Manipulation: Controlling someone unfairly or deceptively.
• Emotional blackmail: Using someone's feelings (like guilt or fear) to control them.
• Self-reproach: The act of blaming or criticizing oneself.

Related Phrases

• "To play on someone's guilt": Similar to "lay a guilt trip," it means to exploit a person's existing feelings of guilt.
  • She knows I feel bad and she's playing on my guilt.

Noun

1. remorse caused by feeling responsible for some offense