Is there any idiomatic expression with the meaning "show all the hidden stuff"?

Question

Which idiomatic phrase can be used to express 'showing all the hidden stuff' (it's supposed that nobody should find that out, some scandal things)?

score 11 · Answer 1 · answered Sep 28 '10 at 10:41

11

Blow the lid off something.

answered Sep 28 '10 at 10:41

RegDwigнt

97,231

score 11 · Answer 2 · edited Nov 25 '11 at 21:25

11

Let the cat out of the bag

edited Nov 25 '11 at 21:25

Daniel

57,547

answered Sep 28 '10 at 13:21

xdumaine

1,195

score 11 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 28 '10 at 14:51

11

"Spill the beans" or just "Spill it."

answered Sep 28 '10 at 14:51

kitukwfyer

3,753

score 7 · Answer 4 · edited Dec 02 '11 at 20:10

7

Uncover the skeletons in the closet or, similarly, show where the bodies are buried.

edited Dec 02 '11 at 20:10

yoozer8

8,752

answered Sep 28 '10 at 18:14

moioci

4,678

Coming out of the closet. – OneProton Sep 28 '10 at 19:08

score 2 · Answer 5 · answered Sep 28 '10 at 21:32

2

From The Telegraph: "A married magistrate was discovered defrauding a charity she worked for after her lover of 10 years blew the whistle." More common is the noun form: whistleblower.

Do you want to describe an outsider discovering secrets or an insider revealing them? Most idioms that I can think of lean one way or the other.

answered Sep 28 '10 at 21:32

Don Kirkby

227

1

+1 for raising that crucial distinction between discovering and revealing, which I too think applies to most idiomatic forms. Unearth, ferret/worm out, etc. as opposed to blab, squeal, sing, rat, snitch, split, etc., etc.. As you can probably guess, I also think there are more (mostly negative) ones for the latter! – FumbleFingers Oct 16 '11 at 15:21

score 1 · Answer 6 · answered Oct 27 '10 at 18:20

1

"Shine a light on" and "Lift the veil" can fit.

answered Oct 27 '10 at 18:20

mfg

2,554

score 0 · Answer 7 · answered Sep 28 '10 at 19:28

0

The criminal fraternity might say 'peach', 'rat', 'grass' or 'cough'.

answered Sep 28 '10 at 19:28

Brian Hooper

36,868

score 0 · Answer 8 · answered Oct 15 '10 at 21:28

0

If you're letting someone in on the secret goings-on, you can be said to "open the kimono."

answered Oct 15 '10 at 21:28

Andy Lester

141

score -1 · Answer 9 · answered Sep 29 '10 at 07:33

-1

how about unhide all

answered Sep 29 '10 at 07:33

Dia

1,097

Is there any idiomatic expression with the meaning "show all the hidden stuff"?

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