sell someone out
sell someone out
Meaning:
- to betray someone
- to let someone's secret out
- to reveal damaging information about someone
Example:
- The company had put a lot of trust on him, but he sold them out by leaking confidential information to the competitors.
- Celebrities have a hard time keeping secrets. Most of the time its their close friends who sell them out to the media.
- I had trusted you to keep my secret. I can't believe that you sold me out!
- They wanted to keep the news under wraps to avoid a scandal, but someone on the inside sold them out.
- Can I trust you with this piece of information or will you sell me out?
- Hardened criminals are tough to crack. They don't easily sell their accomplices out, even if it means torture for them.
- There has been a misunderstanding! Why would I sell you out? It must have been someone else.
- He can be trusted with that information. He will not sell us out under any circumstances.
Origin:
The origin of this phrase is not clear.