Example
“A careless mention of her real employer nearly blew the investigator's cover.”
Dictionary details
Related idioms
Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.
break cover
Neutral · CEFR B2
to stop concealing one's true position or intentions and make them known
cover all bases
Neutral · CEFR B2
to consider and prepare for every important part, possibility, or problem so nothing is missed
blow someone's mind
Informal · CEFR B2
to astonish someone with something highly surprising or impressive
body blow
Neutral · CEFR B2
a major setback that seriously weakens a person, organization, or effort
moment of truth
Neutral · CEFR B2
the decisive point when reality or the final outcome becomes clear
can of worms
Informal · CEFR B1
a complicated problem that causes trouble the moment it is touched
Source methodology
Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.