English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Skeleton in the closet
Meaning
The idiom "skeleton in the closet" refers to a hidden secret or shameful act that someone wants to keep hidden from others. It implies that there is something unpleasant or embarrassing about the information being withheld, and it could cause harm to the person if revealed.
Usage
- When Jane's skeleton in the closet was exposed during her political campaign, she lost all support from voters.
- The company's skeleton in the closet was leaked to the media, causing a major scandal and damage to their reputation.
- John's skeleton in the closet was revealed during his divorce proceedings, and he lost custody of his children.
- Sarah's skeleton in the closet was exposed after she applied for a job at a law firm.
- The government's skeleton in the closet was leaked to the press, causing uproar and calls for investigation.
Roots and History
The idiom "skeleton in the closet" dates back to the 17th century, when people believed that bones held secrets and were used as a means of communication between the living and dead. In modern usage, the phrase has taken on a more metaphorical meaning, referring to a hidden secret or shameful act that someone wants to keep hidden.
Synonyms in English
- Closet skeleton
- Hidden secret
- Dark past
- Buried truth
- Unpleasant surprise
Synonyms in other languages
- French: Ossature souterraine (literal translation: underground bones)
- Spanish: Esqueletos en el armario (literal translation: skeletons in the closet)
- Italian: Osservazioni segrette (literal translation: secret observations)
- German: Geheimnisse im Schrank (literal translation: secrets in the closet)
- Russian: Тайные отклонения (literal translation: secret deviations)