To make a full admission.

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1862.  I own up that I take a little [whisky], and I am in favor of a large tax on whisky and tobacco.—Mr. James F. Simmons of Rhode Island, May 22: Cong. Globe, p. 2284/1.

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1880.  If you ‘own up’ in a genial sort of way the House will forgive anything.—Trollope, ‘The Duke’s Children,’ ch. xxxv. (N.E.D.)

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1890.  On being arrested, he owned up to his crime.—Boston Journal, May 23, p. 1/6. (N.E.D.)

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