bare one's soul

English

Alternative forms

• lay bare one's soul

Pronunciation

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Verb

bare one's soul (third-person singular simple present bares one's soul, present participle baring one's soul, simple past and past participle bared one's soul)

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.
   • 1891, Oscar Wilde, chapter I, in The Picture of Dorian Gray, London, New York, N.Y., Melbourne, Vic.: Ward Lock & Co., →OCLC, page 16:

     “ […] 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. […]”

   • 1916, Gilbert Parker, chapter 26, in The World For Sale:

     "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, Kathleen Norris, chapter 3, in The Heart of Rachael:

     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.

   • 1996 October 21, Christopher John Farley, “Music: First-Class Flyers”, in Time:

     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.

See also

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

References

• “bare one's soul”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.