what does a clean breast of it mean
The meaning used in 'make a clean breast of it' is an earlier and less literal one. The 'breast' there is the seat of the one's emotions and secrets; one's 'heart'. To disclose this openly was to clean one's heart of impurity.he meaning and origin of the expression: Make a clean breast of it. Home Phrase Dictionary-Meanings and Origins Make a clean breast of it. Browse phrases beginning with: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T UV W XYZ-Full List.