bare one's breast

present singular third person bares one's breast · participle present baring one's breast · participle past bared one's breast · past bared one's breast

1. To make oneself vulnerable.

   Near-synonym: wear one's heart on one's sleeve

   2 more examples

   […] he bared his breast to whizzing javelins, to hissing arrows, to any and every weapon that promised death and forgetfulness, and rest.

   1869, Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad

   I'm going to be angry with you. Pitch into old Frank Henchman—hit away, my young one.' And Frank put himself into an attitude as of one prepared to receive a pugilistic assault. He bared his breast, as it were, and showed his scars, and said, "Strike!"'

   1854-55, William Makepeace Thackeray, The Newcomes, Chapter 59

   Synonyms: bare one's soul, pour one's heart out, wear one's heart on one's sleeve

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see bare, breast.