"tirar de la manta"
Here's a potentially interesting activity: probably tending towards Intermediate level.
How many English phrases can we come up with as synonyms for tirar de la manta ?
The papers, radio and TV here in Spain are using this phrase a lot these days in reference to the alleged political corruption of Rajoy and his party, the PP.
Here is 1 of 2 explanations in Spanish. Here's another. Muy Interesante
The Vanguardia article toys with the phrase using Lo que oculta la manta as a headline before quoting this oft-repeated frase hecha. How would you translate that one? 
So, any suggested synonyms?
I'll give you one, fairly weak, as a starter
Take the wraps off..
10 Answers
Another expression used in spanish is " Sacar los trapos sucios" wich have the exact same meaning, and its commonly used when youu are going to reveal mean secrets about something,
Blow your cover?
I saw a similar phrase in an article about this:
Prender el ventilador
Another English phrase -
Let the cat out of the bag
or slightly different emphasis:
Sing like a canary
Air the dirty laundry.
Rip the cover off the book.
Expose the juicy details.
This looks like the source of one of your articles. It's an interesting reference.
How about, "Spill the beans..."
How about, "to blow the whistle on (something or someone)"? This could certainly pertain to events we have been seeing in the recent news....
"Blowing the lid off" seems a good translation for modern day usage. In reading the Spanish article on the second link, it is interesting that a expression used today in connection with transparency or uncovering nefarious deeds was once used precisely as an act that preceded nefarious deeds. Why would people look in one's family background to find out if another is Jewish? That could not have ended well.
In your posted cite this sentence occurred:
En nuestros días, tirar de la manta, se usa para amezar con desvelar algún suceso de corrupción relacionados con los negocios, la política, y comó no en la prensa del corazón.
I could not find the Spanish word amezar, and comó no should be cómo no. I can understand the typo (well, not really because I expect better editing for professional postings), but how do we find out what amezar is? I presume you didn't write it, but maybe you can shed some light (arrojar luz) on it.
@ Jubilado:
At the end of the 15th century (1492) the beginning of the push for hegemony began in earnest Spanish Empire begins
The Spanish Inquisition and it's obsessive persecution of "heresy"is at the heart of it.Expulsion of the Jews
This single-minded obsessive persecution in the 15th century and beyond meant both the Moors and the Jews were to be declared personae non gratae.
Compulsory conversion to Christianity was not enough and repression of these conversos soon followed. Thus the manta
I suppose Hitler's Germany and McCarthyism in the US are comparable historical examples of that sort of organised manic persecution.
Of course Franco's Spain was something of a throw-back to that atmosphere of terror where languages, cultures, "difference" was ruthlessly persecuted under the enforcer's slogan: todo por la patria
Funny old world innit?
What about 'spill the beans' ? Or 'let the cat out of the bag'? Or ' reveal s.o. 's true colours', 'blab' ?
