Blow the Lid Off (something)

Also used:
take the lid off,
blow wide open

Meaning of Idiom ‘Blow the Lid Off’

To blow the lid off something means to publicly expose a scandal or illegal activity; to reveal the truth about something; to let the public know about a big secret.

Examples Of Use

“He threatened to blow the lid off the company’s tax evasion schemes.”

“The New York Times story blew the lid off the administration’s corruption.”

“Either you pay me what I want or I’ll blow this thing wide open.”

“I’m gonna get the proof. I’m gonna go back, and blow the lid off this place.” — Shutter Island (2010)

“Who else could turn a vacation into a story that’ll blow the lid off of corruption in the Caribbean?” — Superman III (1983)

“It’s very good. It’ll blow the lid off the upholstery business as we know it.” — Throw Momma from the Train (1987)

“They’re ready to blow the lid off one of the slickest multimillion-dollar frauds ever perpetrated on the American people.” — Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)

“…your early work is very entertaining. I mean, I especially like the story you did blowing the lid off the Pillsbury Bake-off contest. You know, entering under a fake name and baking a pie without using one Pillsbury product?” — I Love Trouble (1994)

Origin

Used since the first half of the 1900s, this idiom conjures an image of forcefully blowing the lid off a container, as with an explosion, to reveal what is inside.