They fear exposure of their weaknesses and hide beneath layers of protective pride and pretensions.

他们害怕暴露自己的弱点，因此将自己隐藏在层层骄傲和矫饰之下。

youdao

He notes many families do not register for the money because they fear exposure or are uncertain as to whether they will stay.

他发现很多家庭并未登记领取现金，因为他们害怕爆炸或者其他不确定事由影响他们能否留下来。

youdao

Humiliation is the greatest fear; self-exposure and failing to appeal to the audience come a close second.

羞辱是最大的恐惧；紧随其后的是自我暴露和无法吸引观众。

youdao

But at the time I was trapped by the fear of exposure.

BBC: Lord Browne: Business 'intolerant of homosexuality'

Here is where an entrepreneur can confess his or her struggles with cash flow problems, management challenges, ethical dilemmas and so forth, without fear of exposure or ridicule.

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The author says it was simple fear of exposure.

ECONOMIST: Memoirs