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Glite Dictionary
to spill one's guts

to spill one's guts

1 8.1
To tell someone your private feelings or secrets openly
  • idiom
  • Informal
: abrirse
  • What did you say to him when he spilled his guts like that?
  • get him to spill his guts
  • just spill his guts
  • gonna spill his guts

Examples

Synonyms

to open up
vsto spill one's guts
  • Informal
204 2.9

Begin to talk honestly about your thoughts and feelings

can be more sudden and forceful, revealing intimate secrets quickly
to tell all
vsto spill one's guts
  • Literature
146 5.6

Say all private things about a person or event

is often less absolute, sometimes meaning candid but not exhaustive
to spill
vsto spill one's guts
94 4.5

To reveal secret information, often by mistake

is more deliberate and emotionally candid rather than accidental revelation
to express feelings
vsto spill one's guts
62 3.4

Show or say your emotions to other people

focuses more on private confessions and unrestrained disclosure
to divulge
vsto spill one's guts
52 6.2

To tell secret or private information to people

is more personal and emotional rather than merely informing others
to level with
vsto spill one's guts
39 6.2

Tell someone the truth about something difficult

is often more unrestrained and emotionally revealing than honest speech
to pour out
vsto spill one's guts
  • Informal
29 3.9

To tell someone your feelings and thoughts freely

leans more toward revealing private facts and secrets as well
to breathe
vsto spill one's guts
21 7.4

To tell a secret

is broader emotional release, not only a single spoken disclosure
to spill the beans
vsto spill one's guts
  • Informal
18 6.0

Tell a secret by accident before others know

is more about voluntary, unrestrained sharing of personal secrets
to lay bare
vsto spill one's guts
13 5.5

To show something hidden so people can see it

is more about personal feelings and emotional confession than exposure
to breathe a word
vsto spill one's guts
  • Informal
13 6.3

To tell someone a secret that should be kept

is more extensive and emotionally open than a single disclosure
to speak openly
vsto spill one's guts
13 3.4

Talk honestly without hiding facts or feelings

is usually more emotionally intense and less controlled than candid speech
to speak from the heart
vsto spill one's guts
  • Informal
11 3.7

Say something honestly and with strong feeling

tends to include revealing private details, not only sincere emotion
to blabber
vsto spill one's guts
  • Informal
9 7.8

To talk too much and tell secrets carelessly

is focused on deep, meaningful personal disclosure rather than chatter
to air dirty laundry
vsto spill one's guts
  • Informal
7 8.4

To talk about private or embarrassing family matters in public

is more intimate and personal, not necessarily public airing
to let the cat out of the bag
vsto spill one's guts
  • Informal
4 5.1

To tell a secret that should be kept

is intentional and open rather than accidental disclosure
to bare all
vsto spill one's guts
  • Informal
3 7.5

To tell everything about yourself, including private things

is similar but can be less total, sometimes leaving out details
to blab out
vsto spill one's guts
  • Informal
1 7.9

To tell a secret carelessly or without meaning to

is more about a full, candid emotional confession than carelessness
to say the quiet part loud
vsto spill one's guts
  • UK
1 9.1

To openly say something people usually keep secret

is more personal and emotional rather than stating hidden motives aloud
to unbosom
vsto spill one's guts
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To tell someone your secret or worrying thoughts and feelings

is less only confession and more about unrestrained personal revelation
to babble out
vsto spill one's guts
  • Informal
1 8.0

To tell secrets without thinking

is more purposeful and emotionally frank rather than careless spilling
to pour one's heart out
vsto spill one's guts
  • Informal
6.4

Talk openly about your deepest feelings when you feel upset

is more about exposing personal secrets as well as feelings
to unload one's thoughts
vsto spill one's guts
  • Informal
4.8

To tell someone or write down your thoughts to feel better

is usually more emotionally raw and may include secrets
to get off one's chest
vsto spill one's guts
  • Informal
6.0

Talk about something worrying you so you feel better

often goes further, exposing private secrets as well as worries

Antonyms

to keep to oneself
1 5.4

To not tell others your thoughts or feelings

How Open

to spill one's guts
  • Informal
1 8.1
to open up
  • Informal
204 2.9
to confide
96 4.6
to hint
119 2.0

Surface Forms

spill one's guts infinitive
spilled one's guts past
spilled one's guts past participle
spilling one's guts present participle
spills one's guts third person singular

Morphology

spill + one + guts

The verb 'spill' (to let out) combined with 'guts' (literally internal organs but used metaphorically for inner feelings) gives a fairly clear metaphorical image of letting out one's innermost thoughts, so learners who know the words can often infer the general sense. However, the mapping from 'guts' to 'secrets/emotions' and the colloquial force of the phrase are metaphorical and culturally marked, so the precise pragmatic meaning and strength may not be fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

Spill one's guts comes from a strong picture: someone spilling their guts like a bag opening and everything inside falling out. That's why it means to 'tell everything' or to 'reveal' very personal thoughts or 'secrets'.