1. He kept a secret.
2. He broke a secret
3. He let out a secret.
4. He gave away a secret.
5. He betrayed a secret.
=================
What is the opposite of #1? Can the others be used as the opposite? What is commonly used?
4 and 5 are the best opposites of 1. The others are OK, but I've never heard anyone use them.
You could also say, "He couldn't keep the secret" or "He didn't keep her secret."
The opposite of "keeping a secret" (#1) would be "revealing a secret" or "sharing a secret." The other phrases (#2, #3, #4, #5) mentioned in your question do not convey the opposite meaning of #1. Let's break down each phrase to understand their meanings:
1. "He kept a secret": This means that someone didn't disclose or share a particular secret with others.
2. "He broke a secret": This phrase is not commonly used, and it does not carry the opposite meaning of #1. However, "breaking a secret" might imply accidentally or unintentionally revealing a secret that was supposed to remain confidential.
3. "He let out a secret": This means that someone intentionally revealed or disclosed a secret that they were entrusted to keep. It is similar to the concept of #1, but it implies a deliberate act of sharing the secret.
4. "He gave away a secret": This phrase conveys the act of purposely revealing or divulging a secret that was meant to be kept confidential. It is similar to #3 but emphasizes the action of providing the secret information to others.
5. "He betrayed a secret": This means that someone disclosed a secret in a way that was disloyal, untrustworthy, or harmful to the person or group for whom the secret was kept. It implies a breach of trust.
While each phrase relates to the topic of secrets, only #1 (keeping a secret) and the opposite phrases "revealing a secret" or "sharing a secret" are commonly used to convey opposite meanings.
Help
M