bare one's breast

bare one's breast

1. To make oneself vulnerable.
   • Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad

     […] he bared his breast to whizzing javelins, to hissing arrows, to any and every weapon that promised death and forgetfulness, and rest.

   • William Makepeace Thackeray, The Newcomes, Chapter 59

     I'm going to be angry with you. Pitch into old Frank Henchman—hit away, my young one.' And Frank put himself into an attitude as of one prepared to receive a pugilistic assault. He bared his breast, as it were, and showed his scars, and said, "Strike!"'