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

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

Adding to the drama: Duff and Mandy Moore are rumored to be part of the group, though Tisdale French has annoyingly refused to name names.

From Los Angeles Times

Tisdale French doesn’t name names in her essay, but Koma’s reaction seems to indicate that former child star Duff, 38, might have been one of the allegedly mean moms who was definitely not being named.

From Los Angeles Times

The report doesn't name names, either complainants or those accused.

From BBC

“We’d like to see the commissioner use the ‘bully pulpit’ to name names of insurers that are reducing obstacles and delays by relaxing paperwork requirements — as well as those that are not,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times