English idiom

skeleton in the closet

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

a shameful secret in someone's past

Why this phrase?

A hidden skeleton in a cupboard is the classic image of a secret too dreadful to display openly.

Example

“Every family has a skeleton in the closet.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

let the cat out of the bag

To reveal a secret, usually by mistake.

pull someone's leg

To tease or joke with someone by telling them something untrue in fun.

spill the beans

To reveal a secret, often accidentally.

behind closed doors

in private, away from public observation

behind the scenes

happening privately or secretly, not in public view

come clean

to confess the truth about something previously hidden or denied

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

markdown