skeleton in the closet

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skeleton in the closet

A family's old skeleton in the closet was finally revealed.

Definition

Noun: - A shameful or embarrassing secret, especially one kept hidden from others for a long time: This idiom refers to a discreditable or scandalous fact from a person's or family's past that is concealed to avoid public knowledge and disgrace.

Usage

This phrase is used as a singular noun, often preceded by the indefinite article "a." It describes a specific, long-hidden secret. - It is typically used in the context of families or individuals. - The idiom implies the secret is serious enough to cause significant shame or damage to one's reputation if revealed.

Examples
  • Noun:
    • Every family has a skeleton in the closet. (Every family has a shameful secret from the past.)
    • The politician was terrified that journalists would discover the skeleton in his closet. (The politician was afraid reporters would find his hidden scandal.)
    • She felt relieved after finally confessing the skeleton in her closet to her best friend. (She felt better after finally telling her best friend her long-kept secret.)
Advanced Usage
  • "to have a skeleton in the closet": To possess a hidden, shameful secret.
    • I suspect he has a skeleton in the closet; he's always so defensive about his past.
  • "a skeleton in the family closet": A secret specifically related to one's family history.
    • The inheritance dispute brought an old skeleton in the family closet to light.
Variants and Related Words
  • Skeleton in the cupboard: A British English variant with identical meaning.
  • Family skeleton: A shorter, related phrase.
  • Dark secret: A more direct synonym, though it lacks the idiomatic imagery.
Synonyms
  • Hidden scandal: A concealed event causing public outrage.
  • Shameful secret: An embarrassing fact kept private.
  • Guilty secret: A secret one feels guilty about.
Related Idioms
  • Skeletons come tumbling out of the closet: Used when multiple hidden secrets are revealed at once.
    • When the investigation began, skeletons came tumbling out of the company's closet.
  • To air one's dirty laundry (in public): To make private shameful matters public. This is related but focuses on the act of revealing secrets rather than the secret itself.
    • He didn't want to air the family's dirty laundry in court.
skeleton in the closet

A family's old skeleton in the closet was finally revealed.

Noun
  1. a scandal that is kept secret
    • there must be a skeleton somewhere in that family's closet

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