THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE
Get it off your chest
Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.
01 / UNDERSTAND
Meaning in plain English
To talk about something that has been worrying you or making you feel guilty.
02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT
The expression in a sentence
- If the argument is still bothering you, get it off your chest with someone you trust.
03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING
Quick idiom quiz
Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.
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Can you recall the expression?
Complete the example using the expression from this lesson.
If the argument is still bothering you, ________ with someone you trust.
Show the answer
Get it off your chest — To talk about something that has been worrying you or making you feel guilty.
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Make it yours
Write one sentence using “Get it off your chest” about your own life.
Check your sentence
Does your sentence match this meaning?
To talk about something that has been worrying you or making you feel guilty.
Compare: If the argument is still bothering you, get it off your chest with someone you trust.
Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.
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More ways to understand and use it
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When to use it
Use it informally when someone wants relief from keeping a concern or troubling thought to themselves.
More examples in context
- I finally got it off my chest and told my friend why I had been upset.
- She wanted to get it off her chest before the misunderstanding grew.
Usage note
Replace it with the concern if useful: “get a worry off your chest.” Match your to the speaker: “I got it off my chest.”
A short conversation
A: There is something I have wanted to tell you all week.
B: Go ahead and get it off your chest.
A: I felt hurt when my suggestion was ignored.
One more practice question
Which action means getting something off your chest?
A. Telling a trusted friend about a worry you have kept to yourself.
B. Continuing to hide a worry and refusing to discuss it.
Check your answer
A. Speaking about the concern is the key action.
Related lessons
Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.