name names

Idioms  

1. Specify persons by name, especially those who are accused of something. For example, More than one person was involved in the robbery, and his lawyer said he would get a shorter sentence if he named names. It is also put negatively, name no names, as in Some of our neighbors disobey the town's leash law, but I'm naming no names. The negative form was first recorded in 1792.

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Example Sentences

Though he did not name names, the Roc Nation boss said “people run” when confronted with scandal, adding that “they don’t care what happened” and “it’s like, save yourself.”

From Los Angeles Times

He didn’t name names, or have to.

From The Wall Street Journal

He declines to name names and instead talks in general about the three powers jockeying for dominance: Russia, China and the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

She described begging ICE to comply with court orders, emailing in 24-point font and threatening to name names in filings.

From Salon

Venture investor Chamath Palihapitiya claimed on X that “$500 billion in wealth has already fled the state” but didn’t name names.

From Los Angeles Times