confess

confess to (someone or something)

1. To admit something. I don't think he has any intention of confessing to the crime. Everyone knows that you have a crush on Lauren, so you might as well just confess to it!
2. To admit (to something) to someone. I don't think he has any intention of confessing to the police. Everyone knows that you have a crush on Lauren, so you might as well just confess to us!
See also: confess
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

confess something to someone

 and confess to someone
to admit something to someone; to admit having done something to someone. Tom confessed his involvement to the boss. Max confessed to the police.
See also: confess

confess to something

to admit having done something. He will not confess to the crime. In the end, Max confessed to it.
See also: confess
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

confess to

v.
1. To admit to doing something: The kids confessed to eating all the ice cream. I will not confess to a crime I did not commit!
2. To admit something to someone: The thief confessed the crime to the police.
See also: confess
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • confess to
  • confess to (someone or something)
  • crush up
  • envisage
  • envisage (someone or something) as (something)
  • envisage as
  • get a crush on (someone)
  • crush (something) out of (someone or something)
  • crush out of
  • grind (something) into (something)
References in classic literature
"You'll not go to picnics nor anywhere else until you've confessed, Anne."
That was why I confessed. Punish me any way you like but that.
Anne Of Green Gables
"After to-day I breathe more freely," he confessed. "There have been enemies pressing closely around me, I have walked in fear.
The Kingdom of the Blind
ISLAMABAD -- Firdous Ashiq Awan special Assistant to PRIME Minister (PM) on information has said Shahbaz Sharif family should confess and seek forgiveness for corruption.
Shahbaz Sharif family confess and seek forgiveness for corruption: Firdous Ashiq Awan
Should I just confess or let it die down on its own?
JUST BRENDA: Should I confess to cheating on my man?
The note also gave Turner, a CPA, the authority to confess judgment.
Court lacked jurisdiction over confessed judgment
"Although it is belated, I gathered the courage to confess because I didn't want to avoid it any longer."
Actor's confession of sexual harassment backfires
EMMERDALE ITV, 7pm Will Rakesh confess? WE all know how the old saying goes - hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
SOAP watch; Your guide to all the drama in the Square, on the cobbles and in the Dales
A source close to Howell said: "His only regret is Kyle has not supported him after encouraging him to confess.
Double killer Howell's only regret is losing wife Kyle; Mum of five told him to confess; EXCLUSIVE
Confess, is India's first anonymous social network app, created by mobility and internet solutions company Vavia Technologies.
Say hello to Confess, India's first anonymous social network
Cheaters who confessed just part of their wrongdoing were also judged more harshly by others than cheaters who didn't confess at all, according to five experiments involving 4,167 people from all over the United States.
Telling half truths worse than confessing nothing at all
According to the Supreme Court of Nebraska, offers to confess judgment may be made by a defendant "in an action for the recovery of money only." Thus, as a condemnation proceeding is a proceeding for the recovery of land, not money, an offer to confess judgment in a condemnation proceeding is invalid.
Offers to confess judgment may only be made in actions for recovery of money and are invalid in condemnation proceedings
Critics lambasted the Uruguayan earlier this month for his failure to confess to a handball that ultimately saw Liverpool past non-league Mansfield Town in the FA Cup.
Suarez finds himself in no-win situation
LANCE ARMSTRONG is 1-9 with Coral to confess to doping in his interview with Oprah Winfrey tonight (2am), writes Phil Agius.
Armstrong 1-9 to confess; CYCLING