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Phrasal verbs "fess up" vs "fess up to"

Differences between fess up and fess up to

Fess up and fess up to are very similar in meaning, but fess up to is more specific. Fess up means to confess or admit to something, while fess up to means to confess or admit to a particular thing or wrongdoing.

Meanings and Definitions: fess up vs fess up to

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

Fess up

  • 1Confess, admit something reluctantly.

    The company FESSED UP after they were exposed in the newspapers.

  • 2Give.

    FESS UP your share of the bill.

Fess up to

  • 1Confess, admit reluctantly to something.

    They FESSED UP TO the crime.

Usage Examples: fess up, fess up to in Sentences

Learn how to use these expressions through these examples

fess up

Example

I know you broke the vase, so just fess up and apologize.

Example

He always fesses up when he realizes he's been caught.

fess up to

Example

He finally fessed up to breaking the vase.

Example

She fesses up to her mistakes when confronted.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Fess up

come clean

To confess or admit to something that was previously hidden or kept secret.

Example

After being caught, he decided to come clean about his involvement in the prank.

own up

To take responsibility for something, usually something negative or wrong.

Example

It's time to own up to your mistakes and apologize for the harm caused.

admit to

To confess or acknowledge something, usually something negative or embarrassing.

Example

He finally admitted to cheating on the exam after being confronted with the evidence.

Similar Expressions(Synonyms) of Fess up to

confess to

To admit or acknowledge something, usually something negative or wrong.

Example

He decided to confess to stealing the money from the cash register.

acknowledge

To admit or recognize the existence or truth of something.

Example

It's important to acknowledge your mistakes and learn from them.

own up to

To take responsibility for something, usually something negative or wrong.

Example

It's time to own up to your mistakes and apologize for the harm caused.

Explore more Phrasal Verbs

Here are some phrasal verbs with the same verbs or particles

Phrasal Verbs with “fess”

Phrasal Verbs with “up”

Differences in fess up vs fess up to: Usage, Formality, and Tone

Frequency in Daily Use: fess up or fess up to?

Both phrases are commonly used in informal conversations, but fess up is slightly more common than fess up to.

Informal vs Formal: Contextual Use of fess up and fess up to

Neither fess up nor fess up to are formal phrases and are not suitable for use in professional or academic settings.

Tone and Implication: The Nuances of fess up and fess up to

Both phrases have a tone of honesty and straightforwardness, but fess up to can also carry a tone of guilt or remorse.

fess up & fess up to: Synonyms and Antonyms

Fess up

Synonyms

Antonyms

Fess up to

Synonyms

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