exposure; disclosure; revelation
Refers to the act of uncovering and publicizing hidden facts, scandals, or secrets, often by the media or investigators. Carries a nuance of digging up and exposing something that was meant to be concealed.
The corruption came to light through a weekly magazine exposé.
The company's misconduct came to light through an exposé by a whistleblower.
リーク (leak) refers to the unauthorized release of information, whereas すっぱ抜き emphasizes the active investigation and public exposure of secrets.
Standard mixed kana-kanji spelling; the most common written form.
Rarely used kanji form; learners are unlikely to encounter it.
Derived from the verb すっぱ抜く (to expose, to disclose). The すっぱ part is thought to be a sound-symbolic element related to 'completely' or 'thoroughly', combined with 抜く (to pull out, to extract). The exact origin is uncertain.