expose a secret

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "expose a secret" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to revealing or making known information that was previously hidden or confidential. Example: "The journalist's investigation aimed to expose a secret that had been kept from the public for years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

In this flamboyant netherworld, our young hero sets out on a journey to expose a secret from his family's past.

The Guardian - Film

Her brother, passionate abolitionist Tad Archer, had been about to expose a secret that he believed could cause irreparable damage to the British slaving industry.

Stanford University

In the case of Mr. Pellegrino, whose book claimed to expose a secret accident with the first atomic bomb, Mr. Porter wrote: "Maybe the idea of a scoop was irresistible.

The New York Times - Books

Adelheid Streidel, who stabbed the then Saarland prime minister and Germany's future finance minister Oskar Lafontaine in April 1990, believed that Jesus Christ had ordered her to expose a secret network of 'killing factories', where abducted victims were dismembered and new beings fashioned from their body parts.

The Guardian

He drew inspiration from European sites that promote the so-called Eurabia conspiracy theory, which purports to expose a secret deal between European bureaucrats and Islamists to hand over Europe to Islam in exchange for oil.

Los Angeles Times

Although the classic example of extortion is a threat to report a crime unless money is paid, extortion also includes threats to "disgrace" another or to expose a "secret".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

James Risen and Eric Lichtblau of The Times were recognized for their series of articles exposing a secret domestic wiretapping program.

The New York Times

At 10 30, the friends eat their way across Brooklyn's ethnic neighborhoods, while the new guide exposes a secret that could bring the business to a halt.

The New York Times

On the other, they have statutory obligations to keep government programs confidential" or potentially risk criminal charges if they exposed a secret government program.

The New York Times

A report in The New York Times on Thursday exposed a secret plan by Republican strategists and financiers to rekindle questions about the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., Mr. Obama's onetime pastor, and his angry black-power sermons.

The New York Times

This week we finally lost ours — most likely because we recently exposed a secret deal between members of the Liberian government and the corrupt regime in Equatorial Guinea to make a $130 million investment in an airport.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "expose a secret" when you want to emphasize the act of revealing information that was intentionally hidden. It often carries a connotation of uncovering wrongdoing or hidden truths.

Common error

Avoid using "expose a secret" in situations where a simple revelation is intended without any negative connotation. Alternatives like "reveal a secret" may be more appropriate in neutral or positive contexts.

Linguistic Context

Expose functions as a transitive verb, taking "a secret" as its direct object. It indicates the action of revealing something previously hidden. Ludwig AI suggests this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Academia

29%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "expose a secret" is a grammatically sound and relatively common expression used to describe the act of revealing something previously hidden. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. Analysis of example sentences reveals that it frequently appears in news and media contexts, often with the implication of uncovering wrongdoing or scandal. While alternatives like ""reveal a secret"" or ""uncover a secret"" exist, "expose a secret" carries a stronger connotation of intentional concealment and subsequent revelation. It's crucial to consider the context and desired tone when choosing between these options, avoiding overuse in neutral scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reveal a secret

Replaces "expose" with "reveal", emphasizing the act of making something known.

uncover a secret

Replaces "expose" with "uncover", suggesting the act of finding something hidden.

divulge a secret

Replaces "expose" with "divulge", implying a more confidential or private revelation.

disclose a secret

Replaces "expose" with "disclose", suggesting the act of making something officially known.

bring a secret to light

Replaces "expose a secret" with an idiomatic expression, emphasizing the act of making something public.

make a secret known

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the action of making something known.

bring a secret into the open

Similar to bringing a secret to light, this implies making something publicly known.

leak a secret

Suggests that the secret was revealed without authorization.

broadcast a secret

Suggests that the secret was revealed to a large audience.

let a secret slip

Suggests that the secret was revealed unintentionally.

FAQs

What does "expose a secret" mean?

To "expose a secret" means to reveal or uncover something that was previously hidden or kept private. It often implies the revelation of something scandalous, damaging, or previously unknown to the public.

What can I say instead of "expose a secret"?

You can use alternatives like "reveal a secret", "uncover a secret", or "divulge a secret" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "expose a secret"?

Yes, "expose a secret" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It follows the standard verb-object structure.

What is the difference between "expose a secret" and "reveal a secret"?

"Expose a secret" often carries a stronger connotation of uncovering wrongdoing or hidden truths, while "reveal a secret" is a more neutral term for making something known.