spare someone the details: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘spare someone the details’ mean?
The idiom "spare someone the details" means to refrain from providing someone with all the specific information or unnecessary details about something.
Idiom Explorer
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The idiom "tell the truth" means to be honest and not lie or deceive. It is often used in the context of revealing or sharing accurate information or facts without any distortion.
The idiom "tell tales out of school" means to reveal or gossip about private or confidential information or secrets, especially ones that should not be shared publicly.
The idiom "tell tales" means to reveal or disclose secret information or to give away confidential or incriminating details about someone or something.
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The idiom "talk someone out of something" means to persuade or convince someone not to do or pursue something that they were planning or considering.
The idiom "take out" means to remove something or someone from a particular place or situation.
The idiom "sweep aside" means to dismiss or ignore something or someone as unimportant or insignificant, usually due to a lack of interest or consideration.
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Withheld Chronicles Expose Unspoken Secrets
The idiom "spare someone the details" is a common expression that advises refraining from providing unnecessary or excessive information about a particular event or situation. It implies that the person being spoken to already has enough information and further elaboration is unnecessary.
While the origins of this idiom are not explicitly recorded, it can be inferred that it originated from a cultural understanding of social interaction and communication. Brevity in conversation and avoiding information overload have long been recognized. The idiom serves as a reminder to respect others' time and attention by sparing them from irrelevant details.
One can interpret "spare someone the details" as a request for conciseness, indicating a desire to avoid excessive specifics. It can be used in personal relationships, professional settings, or storytelling to indicate that providing additional information may not be relevant or of interest to the listener.
By using this idiom, the speaker acknowledges that providing additional information can be burdensome, tedious, or irrelevant to the listener. It encourages individuals to be mindful of the amount and relevance of information shared, fostering efficient communication and allowing for a more focused exchange of ideas.
Furthermore, "spare someone the details" can be seen as a form of social etiquette. It suggests that inundating others with unnecessary information is impolite or inappropriate. The phrase promotes respect for others' time and attention, emphasizing the importance of considering the listener's perspective and needs. Using this idiom implies an understanding of the value of brevity and knowing when it is appropriate to "spare someone the details."
The idiom "spare someone's blushes" is related to "spare someone the details" in that both phrases involve sparing someone from something that may be undesirable or embarrassing. While "spare someone the details" focuses on avoiding excessive information, "spare someone's blushes" specifically refers to preventing someone from feeling embarrassed or ashamed.
"Spare someone's blushes" can be used in situations where someone has made a mistake or an embarrassing moment has occurred. By sparing their blushes, one is ensuring that the person doesn't feel further embarrassment or shame. This phrase, similar to "spare someone the details," highlights the importance of empathy and consideration towards others in our communication.
Another related idiom is "in detail." While "spare someone the details" suggests brevity and avoiding unnecessary information, "in detail" encourages providing a thorough and comprehensive explanation of a subject. These two idioms present opposite approaches to communication.
When someone asks for information "in detail," they are requesting a more exhaustive account or explanation. This is in contrast to the desire to "spare someone the details" by avoiding excessive specifics. "In detail" suggests a need or interest in a more complete understanding, while "spare someone the details" recognizes that excessive information may not be necessary or desired.
The idiom "spare someone the details" is a reminder to be concise and considerate in our communication. It encourages us to avoid overwhelming others with unnecessary or irrelevant information. Similarly, "spare someone's blushes" emphasizes the importance of sparing others from potential embarrassment. Conversely, "in detail" encourages providing a thorough explanation, contrasting with the desire to be concise in "spare someone the details."
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "spare someone the details" can be used:
- When my friend asked how my breakup went, I decided to spare her the details and simply told her it was rough.
- During the meeting, the manager briefly explained the new policy but spared us the details by providing a summary.
- After my vacation, my coworkers were interested in hearing about my adventures, but I spared them the details to avoid boring them.
More "Verb" idioms
