blow the lid off

blow the lid off (something)

To expose something to the public, often something scandalous or deceptive. That company's stock price plummeted after the media blew the lid off the CEO's embezzlement scandal.
See also: blow, lid, off
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

blow the lid off (something)

Sl. to expose something to public view. The police inspector blew the lid off the work of the gang of thugs. The investigation blew the lid off the scandal.
See also: blow, lid, off
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

blow the lid off

Also, blow wide open. Expose, especially a scandal or illegal activity. For example, The newspaper's investigation blew the lid off the governor's awarding state contracts to his friends . [First half of 1900s]
See also: blow, lid, off
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

blow the lid off

remove means of restraint and allow something to get out of control. informal
1995 Daily Express Fleiss was taken to court on prostitution charges and threatened to blow the lid off Hollywood by revealing names of all her superstar clients.
See also: blow, lid, off
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • (you've) got to get up pretty early in the morning to (do something)
  • a whack at (something)
  • a/the feel of (something)
  • (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
  • a straw will show which way the wind blows
  • a crack at (someone or something)
  • all right
  • (you) wanna make something of it?
  • all for the best
  • a thing of the past
References in periodicals archive
It broke a 66-run stand that allowed Pakistan to get back on track after the two early strikes threatened to blow the lid off their chase.
Babar Azam ton leads Pakistan to victory in NZ nail-biter
Production company Mammoth Screen were allegedly targeted in 2014 after revealing plans for thriller Opposite Number, which would "blow the lid off " the rogue state.
'North Korea tried to hack Poldark firm'
Production company Mammoth Screen was allegedly targeted in 2014 after revealing plans for thriller Opposite Number, which would "blow the lid off " the rogue state.
'North Korea tried to hack Poldark firm'
If rumours are to be believed, then the former Central Board of Film Certification chief has plotted a comeback role for Govinda in Rangeela Raja , which is meant to blow the lid off a certain Indian baron's international scam.
Govinda returns with new con film
New Idea recently claimed that the Duchess of Cornwall is "set to blow the lid off the royal family" with her $12 million tell-all book.
Camilla Parker-Bowles Not Penning Tell-All Book About Royal Family
Last night Mumford & Sons had the crowd swaying and jigging with their hits including the ever-popular I Will Wait and, to top it all, the grungy yet soulful superstar Pink's show tonight from 8pm is sure to blow the lid off a great Formula One weekend.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Gearing up for one more F1 show
On this occasion members of the committee expressed grave concern over the conspiracy made by India and said that stern measures should be taken to blow the lid off the letters.
Anonymous letters carrying warning message find on doorsteps of Parliamentarians
The Ambassador told the journalists that Heritage Day was an opportunity for French authorities to blow the lid off important archeological sites.
French Embassy opens Pine Palace doors on occasion of European Heritage Days
-- The creator of Fox's prime-time soap "Empire'' said he wants to "blow the lid off homophobia'' in the African-American community with a depiction of the show's lead character's hostile relationship with his gay son.
'Empire' creator eyes homophobia
One imagines that the piece rocketed to #1 on the Times website almost instantaneously precisely because it promised to blow the lid off the repressive ethno-centric Jewish dystopia that some Times readers believe exists, contrary to the paper's own reporting, and that other readers see in their nightmares.
The Truth About Israel and Dissent
The agency's inquiry into the HAL- Rolls- Royce deals might blow the lid off yet another corruption scandal in the graft- ridden world of defence deals.
Rolls- Royce & HAL deals on CBI radar
According to legal documents obtained, the 32-year-old socialite's attorney, Laura Wasser, strongly believes that Humphries' lawyer, Lee Hutton, was lying when he said he didn't plan to "blow the lid off reality television."
Kris Humphries' lawyer 'threatens' to destroy Kim's reality TV career
Tory Chris Grayling said: "These revelations blow the lid off what looks to have been a culture of deceit in Downing Street under Tony Blair.
Blair's F1 exemption role
A packed programme of free events will blow the lid off the Welsh National Opera.
Fanfare for the common man
Half a century ago Senator Joseph McCarthy tried to blow the lid off the infiltration of our government by Communists at the highest levels, and anyone who thinks they have since just given up and gone home must be fooled by the avoidance of the use of that term.
Latin America