Question

in_the_loop_463 to admit and explain some wrongdoing; to confess something Compare to: wipe the slate clean; get something off (one’s) chest

Accepted Answer

MAKE A CLEAN BREAST OF IT The thief admitted to the judge that he was guilty and told him the whole story of his crime. He made a clean breast of it.The children had lied about taking the candy without permission. They eventually went to their father and made a clean breast of it, telling him everything. Whereas make a clean breast of it concerns a wrongdoing, get something off one’s chest refers more generally to one’s troubles, worries, or concerns. The expression suggests that guilt is kept in one’s breast (heart) and that by revealing one’s guilt, one cleans one’s breast.

Id	in_the_loop_463
Idiom	MAKE A CLEAN BREAST OF IT
Definition	to admit and explain some wrongdoing; to confess something
Examples	The thief admitted to the judge that he was guilty and told him the whole story of his crime. He made a clean breast of it. The children had lied about taking the candy without permission. They eventually went to their father and made a clean breast of it, telling him everything.
Cross-Refs	Compare to: wipe the slate clean; get something off (one’s) chest
Extra Info	Whereas make a clean breast of it concerns a wrongdoing, get something off one’s chest refers more generally to one’s troubles, worries, or concerns. The expression suggests that guilt is kept in one’s breast (heart) and that by revealing one’s guilt, one cleans one’s breast.

Breast One’s Clean Make Made Chest Loop Admit