Dictionary|Mobile App|Premium
EN
Leaderboard
Learn
Mobile AppPremiumDictionary
Login
pattern

Truth, Secrecy, & Deception - Revealing Secrets

Explore English idioms that relate to revealing secrets with examples like "spill the beans" and "give the game away".

Review

Flashcards

Quiz

Start learning
English idioms relate to Truth, Secrecy, & Deception
to [let] the cat out of the bag
to let the cat out of the bag
[phrase]

to reveal information that were supposed to be kept secret, often by accident

Ex: She wanted to buy designer clothes and dine at fancy restaurants, but with her student budget, she had champagne taste on a beer budget. 
Close
Sign in
to [spill] the beans
to spill the beans
[phrase]

to reveal secret or private information

Ex: Sarah was planning a surprise party for her friend, but she accidentally spilled the beans when she mentioned it in front of him. 
Close
Sign in
(out|) in the open
(out) in the open
[phrase]

used of a secret that is now shared with others

Ex: The scandal was finally in the open after a whistleblower came forward. 
Close
Sign in
to [blow] {one's} cover
to blow one's cover
[phrase]

to reveal a person's identity or intentions

Ex: The careless remark by an informant nearly blew the agent's cover, putting their life in danger. 
Close
Sign in
to [catch] {sb} in the act
to catch somebody in the act
[phrase]

to see or arrest a person while they are doing something illegal or wrong

Ex: The homeowner caught the thief in the act as he was trying to break into the house through a window. 
Close
Sign in
to [catch] {sb} red-handed
to catch somebody red-handed
[phrase]

to arrest or see someone the moment they are doing something that is illegal or dishonest

Ex: The neighbor caught the children red-handed when they were throwing rocks at his car, leaving visible dents. 
Close
Sign in
to [come] out of the closet
to come out of the closet
[phrase]

to publicly talk about something such as a belief that one used to keep secret

Ex: She comes out of the closet and shares her true beliefs with her friends. 
Close
Sign in
to [give] the game away
to give the game away
[phrase]

to reveal something that one was supposed to keep as a secret or surprise

Ex: The chess player gave the game away by making a careless move, allowing their opponent to capture their queen. 
Close
Sign in
to [lift] the lid on {sth}
to lift the lid on something
[phrase]

to cause the truth become revealed, especially an unpleasant one

Ex: The investigative journalist's report lifted the lid on the corruption scandal, revealing the extent of the bribery and fraud. 
Close
Sign in
to [spill] the tea
to spill the tea
[phrase]

to tell others about what has happened to someone, especially about things that are private or controversial, in the person's absence

Ex: Sarah is known for spilling the tea about her friends' love lives, sharing all the juicy details and scandals. 
Close
Sign in
to [see] the light (of day|)
to see the light (of day)
[phrase]

to be made known publicly

Ex: After years of denial, he finally saw the light of day and admitted his mistakes publicly. 
Close
Sign in
to [call] {one's} bluff
to call one's bluff
[phrase]

to challenge a person to carry out their seemingly fake threats or claims in order to expose them

Ex: The negotiator called the opposing party's bluff by refusing to back down and challenging them to carry out their threat. 
Close
Sign in
Truth, Secrecy, & Deception
DeceptionSecrecyKeeping SecretsLying & Exaggeration
ObviousnessPretenseRevealing SecretsDepth & Surface
Trust & HonestyTruthfulnessFlattery & Bragging
LanGeek
Download LanGeek app