Significado
To reveal someone's dishonesty.
Contexto cultural
The phrase is a favorite of 19th-century writers to show the moral climax of a story. In Soviet detective films (like 'The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed'), the hero often uses this phrase when confronting a criminal. YouTube investigators use this phrase in their video titles to attract viewers looking for scandals. Water in Slavic folklore is often seen as a judge that cannot be fooled by human lies.
Use the Perfective
90% of the time you will use the perfective form 'вывести', because the idiom is about the successful result of exposing someone.
Don't change the water!
Never say 'прозрачную воду' or 'хорошую воду'. The idiom is a fixed block of words.
Significado
To reveal someone's dishonesty.
Use the Perfective
90% of the time you will use the perfective form 'вывести', because the idiom is about the successful result of exposing someone.
Don't change the water!
Never say 'прозрачную воду' or 'хорошую воду'. The idiom is a fixed block of words.
Dramatic Effect
This phrase is quite 'strong'. Use it when you want to sound serious or dramatic. For small things, just use 'поймать на лжи' (catch in a lie).
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Детектив пообещал вывести преступника на _______ _______.
The idiom is fixed: 'на чистую воду'.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Select the correct usage:
The idiom is used to describe exposing dishonesty or corruption.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the verb.
— Ты думаешь, он нам врет? — Да, и я обязательно _______ его на чистую воду!
The future perfective 'выведу' is used to express a firm intention to complete the action.
Match the situation to the most appropriate use of the idiom.
Situation: You found out your business partner has a secret bank account.
'Вывести на чистую воду' is for exposing secrets/dishonesty.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosДетектив пообещал вывести преступника на _______ _______.
The idiom is fixed: 'на чистую воду'.
Select the correct usage:
The idiom is used to describe exposing dishonesty or corruption.
— Ты думаешь, он нам врет? — Да, и я обязательно _______ его на чистую воду!
The future perfective 'выведу' is used to express a firm intention to complete the action.
Situation: You found out your business partner has a secret bank account.
'Вывести на чистую воду' is for exposing secrets/dishonesty.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo. It is only for exposing something bad, dishonest, or criminal.
It is neutral. You can use it with friends, but you'll also see it in newspapers and on TV.
The Accusative case. For example: вывести (кого?) мошенникА.
Only if you are being self-deprecating or joking about your own lies being caught.
Not really, but the verb 'разоблачить' is the one-word equivalent.
Usually, but you can also 'lead a company' or 'lead a scheme' to clean water.
It comes from fishing—moving a fish from muddy water where it's hidden to clear water where it's seen.
Only if you are describing a past experience where you uncovered a problem. Be careful, it sounds very strong.
There isn't a direct idiomatic opposite, but 'покрывать' (to cover for someone) is the opposite action.
Yes, especially in the context of 'exposing' influencers or scammers online.
Frases relacionadas
Сорвать маску
synonymTo unmask someone.
Поймать с поличным
similarTo catch red-handed.
Вывести из себя
contrastTo make someone lose their temper.
Чистой воды
builds onPure / absolute.
