skeleton in the cupboard
Definition
Noun phrase: - A shameful or scandalous secret, especially one about a person or family that has been concealed for a long time: This idiom refers to a discreditable or embarrassing fact from the past that is deliberately kept hidden.
Usage
This phrase is used to describe a hidden secret, typically concerning a person or family, that would cause shame or scandal if it were revealed. It is a metaphorical expression.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- "to have a skeleton in the cupboard": to possess a hidden, shameful secret.
- He seemed like a perfect gentleman, but he had a terrible skeleton in his cupboard.
- "a skeleton rattles in the cupboard": used to suggest a secret is threatening to be revealed.
- As the investigation continued, a skeleton began to rattle in the company's cupboard.
Variants and Related Words
- Skeleton in the closet: This is the more common variant in American English, identical in meaning to "skeleton in the cupboard" (which is more common in British English).
- The phrase "skeleton in the closet" has the same figurative meaning.
Synonyms
- Hidden shame: a secret that causes embarrassment.
- Family secret: a fact kept hidden within a family.
- Dark secret: a very private and potentially damaging piece of information.
Related Idioms
- A closet case: (slang) a person who hides their true nature, often their sexual orientation. (Note: This is related conceptually but is a distinct, more specific idiom.)
- To air one's dirty laundry in public: to discuss private or embarrassing matters openly. This is an antonymic concept to keeping a "skeleton in the cupboard."
Noun
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a scandal that is kept secret
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there must be a skeleton somewhere in that family's closet
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