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I was working on a mock JLPT question requiring me to choose one best option
where `あからさま` is used correctly:

> １ お酒を飲んだので顔があからさまになっている。  
>  ２ あの勝負はあからさまな八百長だ。  
>  ３ 言い訳をしても事実はあからさまだ。  
>  ４ この料理はあからさまに美味しい。  
>

I think options 1 and 4 are off the table. I chose option 3, but the correct
answer turned out to be option 2.

`あからさま` reminds me of `明らか` but I fail to grasp their difference. I looked up
the definitions:

> **あからさま** 包み隠さず、明らかなさま。また、露骨なさま。  
>  **明らか** はっきりとしていて疑う余地のないさま。明白なさま。

Option 2 seems to say 'That match was an obvious/undisguised set-up.'

Option 3, if used `明らか` instead, probably means 'Even you come up with
excuses, the truth is clear/obvious.' Which also makes sense (to me),
especially when the definition of `あからさま` equated it with `明らか`, so I don't
exactly understand why `あからさま` is wrong here. Must `あからさま` suggest something
_bad_ is out in the open, like option 2?

**My questions:**

  * **Why can't`あからさま` be used in option 3, and can `明らか` be used in options 2 and 3?**
  * **How do I properly differentiate between`あからさま` and `明らか`?**
  * **Is there a positive, negative, or neutral connotation to`あからさま` and `明らか`?**
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2021-05-23T10:15:58.597
86770
2021-05-23T13:41:47.053
2021-05-23T10:24:28.490
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meaning word-choice jlpt connotation
あからさま: difference with 明らか and its connotation
It is not so detailed answer though, No.2 seems the best answer in the option
since "Fix in a match"([八百長]{やおちょう}) is hidden. Therefore, describing it to
criticize with あからさま sounds perfect with the definition of the list (i.e The
fix of a match seems obvious for the speaker to criticize).

Choosing one in multiple choices in a language exam could be ambiguous.
Probably No.1 is bit too off if it's saying cheek is red due to drinking sake.
It should be [赤]{あか}ら without さま. (i.e. お酒を飲んだので顔が赤らになっている。）
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2021-05-23T10:46:24.173
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2021-05-23T10:46:24.173
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In short, I would consider あからさま and 明らか as being analogue to “blatant”
(slightly pejorative, subjective, perhaps referring to something that was or
should have been veiled) and “clearly” (more neutral, objective) in English.

I think exactly because option 3 is talking about an objective reality 事実,
there 明らか would be a better fit. However, as something undesirable is going on
in option 2 - the match fixing — you can use あからさま to communicate those
additional meanings.
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2021-05-23T12:39:26.353
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2021-05-23T12:39:26.353
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あからさま is used to describe obvious or undisguised manners in which someone does
something or shows some emotion. It’s mostly interchangeable with 露骨.

Here are some examples.

> 彼はあからさまに嫌な顔をした。

> 彼のあからさまな差別にはうんざりする。

It doesn’t go well with 事実 because a truth is not something you do in an
obvious way.

明らかな八百長 is a fix that seems obvious (in a more or less neutral sense), while
あからさまな八百長 is one carried out in a blatant manner.
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2021-05-23T13:41:47.053
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2021-05-23T13:41:47.053
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answer