- To reveal, expose, or make something fully known, especially things that were previously hidden, concealed, or not understood (e.g., secrets, motives, flaws, harsh truths).
Explanation
Origin
- Uses bare in the sense of naked, uncovered, or exposed.
- Lay means to put or place something down, often for examination.
- So, lay bare means to put something out in the open, completely uncovered and exposed, often implying a stark or potentially uncomfortable revelation.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Expose
- Uncover
- Blow the lid off (Reveal something shocking/scandalous)
- Spill the tea (Reveal gossip or hidden truths, often personal)
- Put someone/something on blast (Publicly expose or criticize harshly, often online)
- Air someone's dirty laundry (Reveal embarrassing private matters)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Rip the fucking lid off something
- Expose all the bullshit
Milder:
- Reveal
- Disclose
- Make known
- Bring into the open
Situational Appropriateness
- Semi-formal to formal.
- Often found in journalism, reports, analyses, legal contexts, or serious discussions where hidden truths are uncovered. Less common in very casual chat.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Ensure learners understand bare means uncovered/exposed, not the animal bear. The phrase implies revealing something hidden, often systematically.
Examples
- The investigation laid bare the corruption within the organization.
- In her memoir, she laid bare her deepest fears and insecurities.
- The economic crisis laid bare the weaknesses in the system.
Dialogue
Journalist A: This leaked document lays bare the company's deliberate attempts to mislead the public.
Journalist B: It's damning. The level of deception is incredible.
Journalist A: This story will have major repercussions once we publish it.
Social Media Examples
- News Summary: Whistleblower testimony lays bare the agency's internal failures. #Investigation #Accountability
- Book Review: A powerful novel that lays bare the trauma of war. #Literature #MustRead
- Thread: Let's lay bare the myths surrounding this popular diet trend. 🧵 #Health #Debunked
Response Patterns
- Shock or surprise: Wow, I had no idea. / That's shocking.
- Understanding: So that's what was really happening.
- Agreement: Yes, it exposed everything.
- Discussion of implications: What does this mean going forward?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After something is laid bare:
- Discuss the details revealed: What were the key findings?
- Analyze the impact: How will this affect the people involved? / What are the consequences?
- Consider reactions: How are people responding to this revelation?
Conversation Starter
- No. Describes the act of revealing hidden information.
Intonation
- Stress on lay and bare.
- The report LAID BARE the extent of the damage.
- Often delivered with a serious or dramatic tone.
Generation Differences
- More common in formal speech and writing. Understood by most adults, but perhaps less frequently used in casual conversation by younger generations compared to alternatives like expose or spill the tea.
Regional Variations
- Used across English-speaking regions, perhaps slightly more common in British English formal contexts.