get something off your chest

Register · Informal Informal — used in casual, everyday conversation among friends and family. Avoid in formal writing or professional settings. CEFR B1

Post

Figurative meaning

To finally say something that has been worrying you, so you feel relieved.

Why this phrase?

As if a weight were physically pressing on the chest.

Example

“I'd been holding it in for weeks, and it felt good to get it off my chest.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

bad news Informal · CEFR A2

an unpleasant piece of information; (informal) a person or thing likely to cause trouble

so far so good Informal · CEFR A2

used to say that things have gone well up to now

break the ice Neutral · CEFR B1

To do or say something that eases tension and gets people talking comfortably in an unfamiliar social situation.

circle back Informal · CEFR B1

to return to a topic or person later, after other things have happened

cry wolf Neutral · CEFR B1

to give false warnings so often that a real warning may later be ignored

drop a hint Neutral · CEFR B1

suggest something indirectly instead of saying it openly

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.

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