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ESL forum >
Ask for help > confess/own up?
confess/own up?
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aldonza
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confess/own up?
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Hi there!
Working on phrasal verbs, I came across the following sentence in which I had to choose the right verb:
"Stephen eventually confessed/owned up to sixteen murders"
According to the key, the right option is confessed, but why? since "own up" also means "confess"
Could you tell me, please, what is the difference?
Thanks in advance!
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3 Jan 2013
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drothe
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Hmmm...
As a native speaker I can tell you that you have posed a good question. The only answer that comes to mind is that one typically "owns up" to a relatively minor offense. The example sentences from this definition seem to support this idea:
- (idiomatic) to acknowledge, confess, or admit
guilt. Often used with to.
- I �ll own up: I glued your mouse to its mat.
- If you own up to breaking the glass, you �ll be forgiven.
It just doesn �t sound right to "own up" to murder. It would be sort of like running someone over with your car and saying, "Sorry, my mistake" as you drive away.
Hope this helps,
David
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3 Jan 2013
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yanogator
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Before reading David �s answer, I think I would have said that "owned up" is OK, but now I realize that he is right. "Confess" is more of a legal (or religious) situation. Bruce |
3 Jan 2013
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aldonza
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Thank you very much. It�s clear now.
Cheers
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3 Jan 2013
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