A skeleton in the closet

A skeleton in the closet (or cupboard)

Meaning

A secret and possibly ruinous source of shame.

Examples

No one in the family ever talked about Grandad being convicted of child abuse. It was the skeleton in our closet.

Where did it originate?

The United Kingdom.

Where is it used?

Worldwide, although the British now use ’cupboard’ and the USA still uses ’closet’.

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About the Author

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

A skeleton in the closet