english
1
general::
reveal
to let someone know about something that is secret or has not been known until now:
• Doctors are not allowed to reveal confidential information. • It was revealed that he had smoked marijuana at college.
tell
to talk about something to someone, so that they know about it:
• Don’t tell anyone about this just yet. • Shall I tell you a secret?
disclose
formal to publicly reveal something such as a fact or a name that has been kept secret:
• The terms of the agreement have not yet been disclosed. • The agent did not disclose that there had been a violent crime in the house.
divulge
formal to reveal important or personal information which was previously secret or unknown:
• The bank has refused to divulge its plans. • I’m afraid I cannot divulge what was said to me.
make something public
to tell people about important information, especially after it has been kept secret:
• Apparently they were engaged for some time before making it public. • The government has agreed that sources of financing should in future be made public.
leak
to deliberately give secret information to a newspaper, television company etc, when a government or other organization wants to keep it secret:
• The contents of the email were leaked to the press. • A man was charged today with leaking official secrets.
give something away
( also spill the beans informal ) to tell someone something that you want to keep secret:
• He was careful not to give away any trade secrets. • I’m not going to give away how much I paid for it!
let slip
informal to accidentally tell someone about something:
• He let slip that he was envious of his older brother.
Longman-Thesaurus
2
general::
Phrase(s): reveal someone or something to someone
to show or disclose someone or something to someone. • The magician opened the door of the cabinet and revealed his assistant to the audience. • I revealed my secret to no one. • She stepped out from behind the tree and revealed herself to the hostess.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs
3
general::
verb
declare:
I will reveal the guilty person.
verb
bared:
He revealed his bullet wound.
Simple Definitions