bare one's breast en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Meanings
-
To make oneself vulnerable.
[…] he bared his breast to whizzing javelins, to hissing arrows, to any and every weapon that promised death and forgetfulness, and rest.
1869, Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad:I'm going to be angry with you. Pitch into old Frank Henchman—hit away, my young one.' And Frank put himself into an attitude as of one prepared to receive a pugilistic assault. He bared his breast, as it were, and showed his scars, and said, "Strike!"'
1854-55, William Makepeace Thackeray, The Newcomes, Chapter 59Near-synonym: wear one's heart on one's sleeve
- Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bare, breast.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| baring one's breast | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| bares one's breast | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| bared one's breast | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| bared one's breast | Tense=Past | lexicographic |
Relateds
Synonyms
wear one's heart on one's sleeve · pour one's heart out · bare one's soul