make a clean breast of it

Cultural  

1. To make a full confession: “The judge will give the convict a lighter sentence if he makes a clean breast of his involvement with the crime.”

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

make a clean breast of it

I did read — to make a clean breast of it — a King piece about Little League baseball that The New Yorker published in the early nineties.

From Salon ● Jul. 6, 2012

If you owe more tax, the 1040X lets you make a clean breast of it.

From Time Magazine Archive

But Ehrlichman will claim that he personally took no part in cover-up activities and kept urging that anyone involved "make a clean breast of it."

From Time Magazine Archive

Well, Mr. Tait," he said in an anxious voice, "have you made up your mind to make a clean breast of it?

From The Beckoning Hand and Other Stories by Allen, Grant

He resolved to make a clean breast of it.

From The Bail Jumper by Stead, Robert J. C.