English idiom · neutral · spoken & written · BrE & AmE

come clean: meaning and examples

come clean means admit the truth about something hidden.

Memory hook: Build a clear mental picture from “come clean” and connect it to this meaning: admit the truth about something hidden.

How to use “come clean”

Common mistake: Treat “come clean” as a fixed expression. Notice its exact word order in the examples.

Learn it in context

This expression belongs to Lesson 12, where you can compare it with other idioms about truth and practise it interactively.

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