acknowledge: implies the disclosing of something that has been or might be concealed: ~d a lie.


admit: stresses reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede and refers usually to facts rather than their implications: ~ted that the project was over budget.


own: implies acknowledging something in close relation to oneself: must ~ that I know little about computers.


avow: implies boldly declaring what one might be expected to be silent about: ~ed hostility toward his parents.


confess: may apply to an admission of a weakness, failure, omission, or guilt: ~ed that she had a weakness for sweets.


acknowledge承认: 表示透露之前隐藏的或试图隐藏的，admit承认:  强调不愿承认透露给予，通常指事实而非其影响，own承认: 表示承认和自己相关(close relation)，avow公开承认: 表示大胆公开承认一般人不会公开承认的 ，confess承认认罪: 指承认自己软弱失败疏忽有罪等

记忆方法: 1）首字母AAOAC想成As Oafish As A Boy像孩子一样粗钝无礼<==承认                   (oafish鲁钝无礼impolite, clumsy, or aggressive, especially of a man or boy，如the bodyguards, as usual, were brave but oafish这些保镖照旧勇敢但鲁钝无礼)

         2）承认的意思是违背意愿透露mean to disclose against one's will or inclination.  (disclose透露，常暗示之前是保密的often suggests imparting of something previously kept secret，如candidates must disclose their financial assets竞选人必须透露金融资产）