acknowledge the corn

The phrase "acknowledge the corn" is an American idiom that means to admit a mistake, weakness, or fault. It originates from the practice of corn farmers who would acknowledge the presence of inferior or faulty corn in their yield. By taking responsibility for it, they accepted the imperfection and avoided trying to hide or ignore it. Over time, the expression evolved to be used figuratively, implying the act of accepting and admitting one's own faults or shortcomings.