idiom · informal
get something off your chest
UK/ɡet ˈsʌmθɪŋ ɒf jɔː ˈtʃest/US/ɡet ˈsʌmθɪŋ ɔːf jʊr ˈtʃest/get·some·THING·off·your·CHEST
to tell someone about something worrying you so you feel relieved
Examples
“If something's bothering you, just tell me — get it off your chest.”
“She needed to get it off her chest, so she called her sister.”
“Sometimes writing a letter helps you get things off your chest.”
Band 8 sentence
“I suggested she get it off her chest rather than letting it fester and affect her work.”
Collocations
- get it off your chest to sb
- need to get something off my chest
Word family
Common mistakes
I need get it off chest→I need to get it off my chest
get it out of chest→get it off your chest
Say it for a higher band
5say/tell→6confess/open up→7+get something off your chest
Synonyms
open up
Easily confused
open up
“After a few drinks he finally opened up about his childhood.”
Related words
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In Communication
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