admit
(redirected from admitting)Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal.
Related to admitting: admitting physician
Like this video? Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day!
a woman is as old as she admits
A woman may not share her true age. A: "But she told me she was 45." B: "There's no way. A woman is as old as she admits, you know." Whenever I asked my granddad how old he and Granny were, he would always wink and, "A man is as old as he feels, but a woman is as old as she admits!" If a woman is as old as she admits, well, then I'm still 35!
admit (one) to (something or some place)
To allow one to enter or become a member of some organization or place. This ticket will admit you to the art exhibit. We were admitted to the club after we showed the security guard our identification. No, you don't have to pay—my membership will admit us both to the botanical garden.
admit (someone or something) into (something or some place)
1. To allow something to be used as evidence in a trial. In this usage, "into" is always followed by "evidence." The prosecuting attorney tried to admit new documents into evidence. We will admit those photographs of the crime scene into evidence. Is it too late for us to admit something into evidence?
2. To allow someone to enter or become a member of some organization or place. That university only admits the best applicants into its law program. Luckily, a worker admitted us into the store, even though it was about to close. Can you admit me into the office? I seem to have forgotten my ID badge at home.
See also: admit
admit defeat
To yield to the opposition or accept that one is wrong in some pursuit. Well, I ran a good campaign, but it is time I admitted defeat in this election. A: "I asked him for a raise, but he said no." B: "You admit defeat too easily, Charlie. You've got to stand up for yourself and argue why you deserve that raise!" After trying their hand in the smartphone market for just a few years, the company is already admitting defeat after finding very little success.
admit of (something)
To permit, allow, or suggest something. I think this plot could admit of several different endings. Don't get locked into one way of thinking. Any problem admits of multiple solutions if we are creative enough to see them. Luckily, this illness admits of several different treatments.
admit to (someone)
To confess to someone a personal wrongdoing. The misdeed can be mentioned between "admit" and "to." Ryan would not admit to his parents that he had damaged their car. I saw you cheating on the test, and if you don't admit it to the teacher, I'll tell her myself! Yep, the girl just admitted to me that she's the thief.
admit to (something)
To confess or acknowledge a personal wrongdoing. Beth finally admitted to cheating on the test. Ryan still will not admit to damaging the car. Yep, that girl stole the goods, she just admitted to it.
I don't mind admitting (something)
I want to tell you something even if it's negative or embarrassing or depicts me unfavorably. I don't mind admitting that I paid way too much money for this computer, so shop around if you're looking for one for yourself. The movie was powerful—I don't mind admitting that I was sobbing like a baby by the end of it.
I don't mind telling you (something)
I want to tell you something even if it's negative or embarrassing or depicts me unfavorably. I don't mind telling you that I paid way too much money for this computer, so shop around if you're looking for one for yourself. The movie was powerful—I don't mind telling you that I was sobbing like a baby by the end of it.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
admit someone (in)to (some place)
to allow someone to enter some place. They refused to admit us into the theater.
admit something into something
to allow something to be introduced into something else. You cannot admit this document into the body of evidence!
See also: admit
admit something to someone
to confess something to someone. Harry admitted his error to his uncle.
admit to something
to acknowledge or confess something; to acknowledge or confess to having done something. Max would not admit to anything.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
I don’t mind adˈmitting, ˈtelling you..., etc.
used to emphasize what you are saying, especially when you are talking about something that may be embarrassing for you: I was scared, I don’t mind telling you!
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
admit into
v.
To allow someone or something to enter or be a part of something: This school does not admit students into a degree program without a high school diploma. The judge admitted the documents into evidence. We were admitted into the theater even though we were very late.
See also: admit
admit of
v.
To allow the possibility of something: This problem admits of two very different solutions.
admit to
v.
1. To confess something to someone: I didn't want to admit my crimes to them. At first they lied, but later they admitted to the police that they had stolen the bicycle.
2. To confess something: He will never admit to feeling jealous. She admitted to her lies.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.