Makes a clean breast of In english explanation

The meaning, explanation, definition and origin of the idiom/phrase "makes a clean breast of", English Idiom Dictionary ( also found in Vietnamese )

Mia Le

2020-08-06 08:08

Meaning of Makes a clean breast of

Makes a clean breast of British verb

to speak openly and honestly about something that previously has been lied about or kept secret

Tim finally made a clean breast of it and admitted that he had stolen the watch.

Linda felt so guilty about cheating on the test that she made a clean breast of it to her teacher.

The director had made a clean breast of all company's recent problems.

Other phrases about:

get something off your chest

Speak out the problem

Confession is good for the soul

Confessing your sins is a good way to release stress and guilt.

a guilty conscience needs no accuser

An offender's sense of guilt and regret can be so strong that they will confess even if no one is requiring them to do so.

spill (one's) guts

1. If you spill your guts, you reveal everything you know to someone in a truthfull way.

2. If you spill your guts, you vomit violently.

come clean with (someone)

To tell someone something that you have been trying to hide.

Grammar and Usage of Makes a clean breast of

Verb Forms

made a clean breast of
make a clean breast of
to make a clean breast of

The phrase starts with a "verb", so we need to be careful about "subject-verb agreement".

Origin of Makes a clean breast of

In 1752, the phrase 'make a clean breast' is first recorded in The Scots Magazine:
"He pressed him... to make a clean breast, and tell him all." In this situation, the 'breast' doesn't mean 'the two soft protuberances situated on the thorax in females'. It refers to the source of one's emotions and secrets.

The Origin Cited: Internet - The meaning and origin of the expression: Make a clean breast of it Grammarist - Make a clean breast of it and come clean