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to unpeel

to unpeel

1 6.8
To reveal hidden parts slowly by taking away layers
  • verb
  • /ʌnˈpil/
translation icon : desvelar
  • I dropped Jack's leg and unpeeled his hand while Sally pulled him away.

Examples

  • As the detective worked on the case, he began to unpeel the truth hidden beneath layers of deception.

  • In therapy, you can start to unpeel your emotions and understand what truly makes you happy.

  • Unpeeling the significance of these visual representations and other learnings was one of our tasks.

    Academic text (1998)
  • We did that because not only was U.S. pride at stake in the space race competition with the Soviets, but also because this country believed in the power of science to unpeel the layers of mystery in the universe and because this country believed in the value of knowledge gained from the scientific processes as a roadmap for designing solutions to solve problems affecting the nation as a community.

    Blog text (8)
  • The process of unpeeling the layers of her past helped her gain insight into her present behaviors.

Synonyms

to unfold
vsto unpeel
239 3.2

Become clear over time

is about gradual revealing layer by layer rather than sudden show
to unravel
vsto unpeel
75 4.4

To find out what really happened in a confusing situation

reveals hidden meaning slowly rather than only solving a puzzle
to uncover
vsto unpeel
37 2.7

Remove a cover to show what is under it

exposes things in a slow, layered way rather than all at once
to peel back
vsto unpeel
11 3.4

Remove a cover or layer by pulling it away slowly

reveals things gradually like removing layer after layer
to unveil
vsto unpeel
5 4.1

To remove a covering and show a person or thing for the first time

is about gradual disclosure over time not a single debut
to unspool
vsto unpeel
2 7.0

To unfold slowly, like a story or plan

is similar but focuses on peeling back many layers gradually
to unbury
vsto unpeel
1 5.8

To take something out of the ground after it is covered

reveals by gradual layer removal rather than digging it up quickly
to uncloak
vsto unpeel
1 7.7

To make something hidden become visible by removing a cover or showing the truth

is similar but highlights slow, layer by layer disclosure
to unhide
vsto unpeel
1 4.3

Make something you cannot see appear again

focuses on slow uncovering through successive layer removal
to unconceal
vsto unpeel
7.7

To show something that was hidden

does the same but stresses gradual removal of layers

Antonyms

571 1.0

A thing like a lid or blanket that lies over something to keep it safe

111 3.7

To cover part of something to hide or protect it

How Revealed

to expose
342 4.1
to disclose
234 4.1
to reveal
2.3
to unpeel
1 6.8
to suggest
2.1
to hint
136 2.0

Surface Forms

unpeel infinitive
unpeeled past
unpeeled past participle
unpeeling present participle
unpeels third person singular

Morphology

unpeel = peel (semi-transparent) = un + peel

The figurative sense 'reveal or uncover gradually' is a metaphorical extension of the literal 'remove layers', so the relation to the base is clear but non-literal.

Etymology

Unpeel can also be used as a picture for finding hidden things: with un- 'remove' and peel 'to take off a skin', imagine peeling an onion layer by layer. So, to unpeel a story or idea is to uncover its layers slowly to see what is underneath.