to open up

Examples

• All

• The people at the charismatic church encouraged others to open up completely in order to be "healed."

  Academic text (2001)

• Mrs. Stewart prided herself on being the type of person that people opened up to.

  Academic text (2014)

• Thank you for being the first person to open up in front of me.

• And... really sorry that it's taken me this long to open up to you.

  Trolls Band Together (2023)

• So she just opens up instead of being afraid.

• All we can do is surrender and try to open up to what is occurring.

  Academic text (1993)

• It comes when we share our experiences, when we open up rather than close down.

• The kids do tend to open up to me on a one-to-one basis.

  Academic text (2014)

• If your mother hadn't finally opened up, you'd never know about that side of your family.

  Fiction book (1994)

• If you're really gonna commit to this, you're gonna have to open up.

  How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)

Synonyms

L

to level with

vsto open up

40 6.2

Tell someone the truth about something difficult

starts opening up about feelings rather than only reporting facts

S

to speak from the heart

vsto open up

• Informal

9 3.7

Say something honestly and with strong feeling

is more about beginning to talk freely, not only strong emotion

G

to get off one's chest

vsto open up

• Informal

9 6.0

Talk about something worrying you so you feel better

focuses on starting to speak more honestly about feelings generally

P

to pour one's heart out

vsto open up

• Informal

8 6.4

Talk openly about your deepest feelings when you feel upset

is about beginning to speak more freely, not always extreme emotion

S

to speak openly

vsto open up

7 3.4

Talk honestly without hiding facts or feelings

begins the process of sharing feelings more freely and honestly

S

to spill one's guts

vsto open up

• Informal

5 8.1

To tell someone your private feelings or secrets openly

is milder, describing the start of honest sharing rather than full outpouring

P

to put cards on the table

vsto open up

3 4.6

To be completely open and honest about your plans or feelings

is about beginning to disclose feelings rather than full strategic honesty

B

to bare all

vsto open up

• Informal

1 7.5

To tell everything about yourself, including private things

is narrower, meaning the initial act of becoming more open and honest

Antonyms

B

to bottle up

24 5.6

To keep strong feelings inside instead of telling others

C

to close up

10 4.8

To stop talking and say nothing

How Open

to pour one's heart out

• Informal

8 6.4

to open up

• Informal

149 2.9

talk

947 1.0

to hold back

108 4.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology