fess up

1 to accept the truth or existence of (something) usually reluctantly <he fessed up to breaking the vase only after his guilt was obvious> Synonyms acknowledge, agree, allow, concede, confess, admit (up), grant, own (up to)Related Words disburden, unburden, unload; affirm, avow, confirm, profess; accept, recognize, yield; announce, break, broadcast, communicate, declare, disclose, divulge, impart, proclaim, publish, reveal, spill, tell, unveil; betray, blab, expose, give away, inform, leak, rat, squeal, talk, tattle, tip (off), warn, wise (up); breathe, say, whisperNear Antonyms disallow, disavow, disclaim, disown; contradict, dispute, gainsay, negate, negative; rebut, refute, reject, repudiate; conceal, cover (up), hide, obscure, veil; kid (oneself)Antonyms deny

2 to make an acknowledgment of something unpleasant as true or valid <he immediately fessed up once it was clear the cops had the goods on him> Synonyms admit, cop (to) [slang], confess (up), own (up)Related Words blab, talk, tattle; babble, spillNear Antonyms clam up, hush, quiet (down), shut up