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Own up

Idiomatic Phrase
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Own up|Idiomatic Phrase|To admit fault, responsibility, or guilt; involves confessing to mistakes or wrongdoing rather than denying or concealing involvement.

Detailed Definition
Own up means to admit the truth, accept responsibility, or confess one’s part in a mistake, offence, or hidden action. In poetry, the idiom can mark a moral turning point, especially in dramatic monologue, confessional verse, or family narrative. Its plainness makes admission feel direct and human rather than grandly penitential. A poet may use it to show courage, shame, relief, or fear of punishment. The phrase is useful for exploring accountability and the difficult movement from concealment to speech.
Example
Example in poetry:
A moral poem might urge the thief to own up before the bell of conscience grows louder; In a comic school poem, the ink-stained pupil finally owns up to the ruined map; The phrase means to admit responsibility; A poet can use it for confession, guilt, and relief.
Additional Notes
Own up means admit responsibility, especially for a mistake, fault, or hidden action. In poetry, it can create a plainspoken moment of confession or moral pressure. The phrase implies ownership of one’s deeds, so it connects guilt with possession. It suits dramatic monologue, childhood scenes, crime, love, and repentance. Students should compare it with come clean and make a clean breast, noting that own up is shorter, brisker, and more colloquial.
Also Known As
confess
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