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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

bare one's soul en · VERB

Pronunciation

Meanings

  1. (idiomatic) To reveal one's innermost feelings and thoughts, especially concerning one's doubts, regrets, or flaws; to tell one's personal secrets to others.
    • Her thoughts wandered about among the various friends whose judgment might serve at this crisis to clear her own thoughts. . . . No, she could not bare her soul to the bishop. 1916, Kathleen Norris, chapter 3, in The Heart of Rachael:
    • “[…] But the world might guess it; and I will not bare my soul to their shallow, prying eyes. My heart shall never be put under their microscope.[…]” 1891, Oscar Wilde, chapter I, in The Picture of Dorian Gray, London; New York, N.Y.: Ward Lock & Co., →OCLC, page 16:
    • The actress bared her soul in the candid interview.
    • "Must a Romany bare his soul before a stranger?" replied Rhodo. . . . Must the secret of the dead be spoken before the robber of the dead—" 1916, Gilbert Parker, chapter 26, in The World For Sale:
    • Duritz's vocals are more anguished and torn than ever; he's as emotionally naked as a daytime talk-show guest, baring his soul and searching for empathy. 1996 October 21, Christopher John Farley, “Music: First-Class Flyers”, in Time:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
baring one's soul Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
bared one's soul Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part lexicographic
bared one's soul Tense=Past lexicographic
lay bare one's soul alternative lexicographic
bares one's soul Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres lexicographic

Relateds

bare one's breast · pour one's heart out