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Region: General | Usage example: He finally came clean about the mistake.

Come clean

Meaning

Confess honestly.

Usage

Encourages admitting truth.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Christian morality of purging sins to be clean.

Used widely in 20th-century advice columns.

Related Idioms

Come hell or high water

No matter what obstacles appear.

Cross that bridge when you come to it

Deal with problems as they appear.

Clean slate

Start over without being judged for past mistakes.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.