see the error of one's ways

see the error of one's ways (third-person singular simple present sees the error of one's ways, present participle seeing the error of one's ways, simple past saw the error of one's ways, past participle seen the error of one's ways)

1. To understand the reasons for which one's prior conduct was wrong or mistaken.

• see sense

• “see the error of one's ways”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
• “to see the error of your ways”, in Collins English Dictionary.
• “the error of one’s ways”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.