fess up

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Also seen as: 'fess up

Meaning · English

To confess to something; to admit something.

Register: colloquial

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

"‛Fess up," she persisted. "Have you boys been quarreling again?"

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “fess up” mean?

To confess to something; to admit something.

Is “fess up” formal or informal?

fess up is generally colloquial.