Come clean
/kʌm kliːn/informalUK · US
What does “Come clean” mean?
Come clean means to admit the truth about something you have hidden
After blaming the dog for a broken vase, you might come clean and admit you knocked it over. The phrase suggests something was concealed before.
You can come clean with a person about a subject: “I came clean with Mum about the vase.” It need not involve a crime.
When do people say it?
Use it when someone finally tells the truth about a secret, a lie or something they did. Name the subject with “about”.
“I came clean and admitted that I had broken the vase.”
Is it formal or informal?
Register: informal. It is most at home in everyday conversation rather than formal writing. Most common in UK and US.
Where does it come from?
The phrase connects being clean with being honest. Nothing needs washing: the change is from hiding the truth to admitting it.
Origin confidence: Disputed; treat with caution
How do you say “Come clean” in other languages?
Related idioms
- Spill the beans, To give away a secret.
Last updated 2026-10-01