confess without torture; inadvertently reveal the truth
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to confess without being tortured; to inadvertently reveal the truth or one's real thoughts
neutralOriginally refers to a criminal confessing without coercion. Now more commonly used to describe someone who gives themselves away or reveals secrets unintentionally through words or actions.
Tā他
hái还
méi没
bèi被
wèn问
，
jiù就
jí急
zhe着
fǒu否
rèn认
，
zhēn真
shì是
bù不
dǎ打
zì自
zhāo招
。
He rushed to deny it before even being asked, truly giving himself away.
Nǐ你
zhè这
me么
jǐn紧
zhāng张
，
bù不
shì是
bù不
dǎ打
zì自
zhāo招
，
shuō说
zì自
jǐ己
yǒu有
wèn问
tí题
ma吗
？
You're so nervous; isn't that like admitting you have a problem without being asked?
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Tā他
yī一
shuō说
lòu漏
le了
rì日
qī期
，
jiù就
děng等
yú于
bù不
dǎ打
zì自
zhāo招
，
chéng承
rèn认
zì自
jǐ己
dāng当
shí时
zài在
xiàn现
chǎng场
。
His slip of the tongue about the date was tantamount to confessing that he was at the scene.
Zhè这
fèn份
shēng声
míng明
lòu漏
dòng洞
bǎi百
chū出
，
jiǎn简
zhí直
shì是
bù不
dǎ打
zì自
zhāo招
。
This statement is full of holes; it's practically a confession.