comes clean
Spills the beans
To come clean is to confess or reveal the full truth after concealment: After weeks of lying, he finally came clean about the affair.
The phrase suggests washing away deception—becoming clean by admitting what was hidden.
She came clean to her parents about dropping out of school.
- admitConfess or grant entry
- truth-tellingCommunicating only facts
- moment of truthDecisive instant of revelation
- fess upAdmit wrongdoing informally
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
get it off your chest · disclose · spill the beans · own up · face the music · integrity · catharsis · reveal · confess · open up · repentance · peace of mind · liberation · clarity · contrition · explanation · acknowledge · apology
comes cleanlies
Deliberate untruths
covers up · conceals · deceives · withholds · dissembles
comes cleanstonewalls
Delays through evasion
clams up · holds out · digs in · won't budge · pleads the fifth
comes cleandenies
Declares something untrue
deflects · passes the buck · scapegoats · doubles down · digs in
come, comes, came, coming, clean, cleans, cleaned, cleaning, cleaner