Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to make a clean breast of

to make a clean breast of

1 7.5
To tell the whole truth about something wrong you did
  • idiom
: confesar
  • make a clean breast of things

Examples

Synonyms

to tell the truth
vsto make a clean breast of
814 2.7

Say what really happened without hiding facts or lying

is aimed at revealing a hidden wrong or embarrassing truth fully
to confess
vsto make a clean breast of
576 3.0

To say you did something wrong or illegal

fully reveals the whole truth about the wrong, often for relief
to come clean
vsto make a clean breast of
  • Informal
92 4.1

To say the truth about something you kept secret

stresses complete revelation rather than simply stopping concealment
to tell the truth
vsto make a clean breast of
  • Informal
48 3.2

To say something that is true even if it is surprising

goes beyond a preface to disclose the full hidden matter
to tell all
vsto make a clean breast of
  • Literature
47 5.6

Say all private things about a person or event

narrows disclosure to confessing wrongdoing rather than general secret-sharing
to own up
vsto make a clean breast of
  • Informal
38 4.4

Admit that you did something wrong or made a mistake

goes further by fully uncovering all relevant facts and feelings
to own up to
vsto make a clean breast of
  • Informal
33 4.2

To say you did something wrong or embarrassing

focuses more on revealing the full truth, not just responsibility
to fess
vsto make a clean breast of
  • Informal
30 8.3

To admit that you did something, often reluctantly

is a more open and complete admission rather than a reluctant one
to fess up
vsto make a clean breast of
  • Informal
28 8.0

To say you did something wrong, often after being asked

is a more complete, voluntary revealing rather than a pressured admission
to lay bare
vsto make a clean breast of
2 5.5

To show something hidden so people can see it

is more about admitting personal fault and seeking closure rather than public exposure
to bare all
vsto make a clean breast of
  • Informal
1 7.5

To tell everything about yourself, including private things

focuses specifically on revealing a hidden wrong rather than all personal facts

Antonyms

to lie
∞ 1.3

To say something that is not true to trick someone

to conceal
282 3.7

To hide something so others cannot see or find it

How Honest

to make a clean breast of
1 7.5
to confess
576 3.0
to admit
∞ 2.0

Surface Forms

make a clean breast of infinitive
made a clean breast of past
made a clean breast of past participle
making a clean breast of present participle
makes a clean breast of third person singular

Morphology

make + a + clean + breast + of

The literal words ('make', 'clean', 'breast') give a partial clue — 'clean' suggests removing stain and 'breast' can metaphorically stand for conscience — but a B1 learner who only knows the basic meanings is unlikely to infer 'to confess' without prior exposure to the figurative use. The expression is idiomatic/partly metaphorical and somewhat archaic in form, so its meaning is only partially predictable from the constituents.

Etymology

Make a clean breast of comes from a simple image: imagine opening your breast, the chest or heart, and making it clean by telling what you have hidden. That's why it now means 'to confess'.