own up to

own up (to something)

To admit or confess (to doing something). Everyone knows you're responsible, so it will look better if you just own up. Tom finally owned up to eating my burrito.See also: own, up

own up to someone

to confess or admit something to someone. Finally, he owned up to his mother about breaking the vase. We had hoped he would own up to us sooner.See also: own, up