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to blab out

to blab out

1 7.9
To tell a secret carelessly or without meaning to
  • phrasal verb
  • /blæb aʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : revelar
  • He tends to blab out confidential information when he’s nervous.

Examples

  • Don't blab out our plans!

  • She accidentally blabbed out the secret during lunch.

  • Don’t blab out the surprise party plans to anyone.

  • She blabbed out the surprise party details.

  • He accidentally blabbed out the surprise party details during lunch.

  • She tends to blab out personal stories without thinking twice.

  • During the meeting, he blabbed out sensitive information about the project.

Synonyms

to expose
vsto blab out
342 4.1

Reveal hidden facts or bad actions to people

is similar but can be less purposeful and more about casual telling
to disclose
vsto blab out
234 4.1

To tell people information that was secret

is generally less formal and more about accidental or careless revealing
to leak
vsto blab out
219 4.1

To tell secret information to the public without permission

is more about casual or unintended speech revealing secrets rather than leaks
to spill
vsto blab out
164 4.5

To reveal secret information, often by mistake

matches this but leans more to careless speech rather than pressure alone
to give away
vsto blab out
114 3.4

Tell a secret on purpose or by accident

leans more toward careless or unintentional revealing rather than deliberate disclosure
to come clean
vsto blab out
  • Informal
92 4.1

To say the truth about something you kept secret

differs by being voluntary confession rather than accidental careless telling
to rat out
vsto blab out
  • Informal
76 8.6

To tell the police or another authority about someone's bad action, betraying their trust

is similar in betrayal but usually involves careless speaking rather than informing officials
to sing
vsto blab out
  • Slang
70 8.4

To tell secret information to the police or other officials

overlaps in revealing secrets but differs by involving official reporting
to betray
vsto blab out
60 4.2

To show a feeling or secret without meaning to

is similar but often involves speaking carelessly rather than unplanned signals
to divulge
vsto blab out
45 6.2

To tell secret or private information to people

leans more to accidental or careless disclosure rather than deliberate release
to let on
vsto blab out
  • Informal
43 6.0

To tell a secret or show feelings you were trying to hide

is more accidental or careless rather than intentional disclosure
to let out
vsto blab out
32 3.7

Tell secret or private information to other people

is more about accidental casual telling than planned sharing
to blab
vsto blab out
  • Informal
21 7.4

To tell secrets without thinking

is the same but emphasises accidental or careless disclosure even more
to spill the beans
vsto blab out
  • Informal
18 6.0

Tell a secret by accident before others know

is comparable but includes both careless and unintentionally spoken disclosure
to breathe a word
vsto blab out
  • Informal
12 6.3

To tell someone a secret that should be kept

is similar but stresses careless speaking rather than breaking a promise
to tattle
vsto blab out
  • Informal
8 7.0

Tell a person in charge about someone else's bad actions in a childish way

shares revealing secrets but is more childish and petty in tone
to blow the lid off
vsto blab out
  • Literature
8 6.8

Reveal secret information that shocks people

is similar in revealing secrets but usually less dramatic or scandalous
to let slip
vsto blab out
5 5.6

Accidentally tell someone something you want to keep secret

is similar but can also include careless rather than purely accidental cases
to spill one's guts
vsto blab out
  • Informal
5 8.1

To tell someone your private feelings or secrets openly

is about careless secret revealing rather than voluntary emotional confession
to let the cat out of the bag
vsto blab out
  • Informal
5 5.1

To tell a secret that should be kept

is similar but used more for spontaneous careless telling
to babble
vsto blab out
3 5.3

Tell secret information carelessly to others

highlights the same careless disclosure but in phrasal form
to lay bare
vsto blab out
2 5.5

To show something hidden so people can see it

is more about careless speech revealing secrets rather than formal exposure
to peach
vsto blab out
  • Archaic
2 9.9

To tell authorities secret information about someone to get them in trouble

is more about careless or accidental telling rather than formal reporting
to bare all
vsto blab out
  • Informal
1 7.5

To tell everything about yourself, including private things

is usually accidental or careless revealing rather than voluntary full openness
to tell tales out of school
vsto blab out
  • Informal
1 8.4

To tell secrets about someone to other people

focuses more narrowly on careless or accidental verbal revealing
to give the game away
vsto blab out
1 5.5

To tell a secret by accident and spoil a surprise

is broader, covering any careless or accidental secret revealing
to dish the dirt
vsto blab out
  • Informal
1 8.5

To tell private or bad things about someone to other people

is about careless revealing but is less about gossip and more accidental speech
to say the quiet part loud
vsto blab out
  • UK
1 9.1

To openly say something people usually keep secret

is more about careless secret revealing rather than deliberate bluntness
to babble out
vsto blab out
  • Informal
8.0

To tell secrets without thinking

focuses similarly on accidental or careless revealing rather than control
to air dirty laundry
vsto blab out
  • Informal
8.4

To talk about private or embarrassing family matters in public

focuses more on accidental or careless telling rather than deliberate public airing
to outen
vsto blab out
  • Offensive
9.9

To tell other people someone's private information, often their sexual orientation, without their permission

overlaps in revealing secrets but is more targeted and public in scope
to bewray
vsto blab out
  • Archaic
9.9

To make a secret known often without meaning to

matches the accidental revealing aspect but not the archaic usage

Antonyms

282 3.7

To hide something so others cannot see or find it

To not tell anyone private information

How Revealing

to expose
342 4.1
to blab out
  • Informal
1 7.9
to blurt out
  • Informal
42 3.9
to mention
1.0
to hint
136 2.0

Surface Forms

blab out infinitive
blabbed out past participle
blabbing out present participle
blabs out third person singular

Morphology

blab + out

The meaning 'to reveal confidential information' is directly and transparently compositional from 'blab' (to disclose thoughtlessly) plus the particle 'out' (to expose or make public). The particle 'out' is a productive English pattern that intensifies disclosure, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should immediately infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Blab out comes from a simple picture: someone talks so much that the secret seems to spill or pour out of them. The parts blab (to talk foolishly) and out (outward) make that image, so blab out means 'to give away' a secret, often by accident.