lays bare
Strips away concealment
To lay bare is to expose or reveal something hidden, often something uncomfortable or private.
The phrase suggests stripping away covering or pretense: The investigation laid bare years of corruption.
Her memoir lays bare the struggles behind her success.
The object laid bare is typically abstract—truth, flaws, secrets, motives.
Makes visible or known
- revealsMakes visible or known
- uncoversReveals something hidden
- unmasksReveals hidden identity
- stripsNarrow cut pieces
discloses · unveils · bares · shows · displays · brings to light · airs · exhibits
Truthfulness, sincerity
- candorUnguarded truthfulness
- franknessDirect, unguarded honesty
- bluntnessFrank, unvarnished manner
- forthrightnessQuality of being direct
directness · unvarnished · plain-spoken · confession · admission · acknowledgment · declaration · transparency
In original state
- nakedWearing no garments
- exposedOut in open
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
- defenselessWithout means to resist
open · stripped · unguarded · unshielded · laid open · vulnerable · undefended · susceptible
Excavates and reveals
- digs upExtracts from earth
- roots outFinds and eradicates hidden things
- dredges upRetrieves from below
- discoversFinds something previously unknown
detects · finds out · ascertains · probes · examines · scrutinizes · investigates · dissects
Makes something understandable
- clarifiesMakes more understandable
- illuminatesProvides light to
- demystifiesMakes understandable
- explainsMakes something understandable
deciphers · decodes · disentangles · unpacks · spells out · breaks down · simplifies · makes plain
exposes
Makes visible or known
strips · discloses · unveils · bares · shows · displays · brings to light · airs · exhibits · manifests
honesty
Truthfulness, sincerity
forthrightness · directness · unvarnished · plain-spoken · confession · admission · acknowledgment · declaration · transparency · openness
raw
In original state
- nakedWearing no garments
- exposedOut in open
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
defenseless · open · stripped · unguarded · unshielded · laid open · vulnerable · undefended · susceptible
unearths
Excavates and reveals
- digs upExtracts from earth
- roots outFinds and eradicates hidden things
- dredges upRetrieves from below
discovers · detects · finds out · ascertains · probes · examines · scrutinizes · investigates · dissects · analyzes
elucidates
Makes something understandable
- clarifiesMakes more understandable
- illuminatesProvides light to
- demystifiesMakes understandable
explains · deciphers · decodes · disentangles · unpacks · spells out · breaks down · simplifies · makes plain · sheds light on