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

Now why had not Hubert the courage to make a clean breast of it.

From Dorrien of Cranston by Bertram Mitford

Hadn't you better make a clean breast of it?

From Plays: Lady Frederick, The Explorer, A Man of Honor by W. Somerset (William Somerset) Maugham