make a clean breast

动词 v.
中文释义
英 /ˈmeɪk ə ˈkliːn bɹɛst/    美 /ˈmeɪk ə ˈklin bɹɛst/

英文释义

动词 v.
  1. Often followed by of: to be honest about something; to confess. idiomatic
    — He preſſed him earneſtly to make a clean breaſt, and tell him all he knew of [Colin Roy Campbell of] Glenure's murder. To which Breck [i.e., Alan Breck Stewart] anſwered with an oath, that he had never ſeen Glenure dead or alive.

词形变化

makes a clean breast present,singular,third-person making a clean breast participle,present made a clean breast participle,past made a clean breast past

词源

From the notion that secrets are figuratively hidden in the heart which is contained in the breast (“chest”), and that admitting them will cause the heart to become clean and pure.
0 次浏览 数据来源: Wiktionary