skeleton in the/(one's) closet

An embarrassing or shameful secret. Primarily heard in US. If you've got a skeleton in the closet, it will probably be exposed during this campaign. He didn't believe me when I said that I didn't have any skeletons in my closet.

See also: closet, skeleton

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

skeleton(s) in the closet

a hidden and shocking secret. You can ask anyone about how reliable I am. I don't mind. I don't have any skeletons in the closet. My uncle was in jail for a day once. That's our family's skeleton in the closet.

See also: closet, skeleton

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

skeleton in the closet

A shameful secret, as in Both her parents were alcoholics; that was the skeleton in her closet. This metaphoric term alludes to a murder victim long concealed in a closet, possibly based on some true incident that is now forgotten. [Early 1800s]

See also: closet, skeleton

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

a skeleton in the closet

BRITISH, AMERICAN or

a skeleton in the cupboard

BRITISH

COMMON If someone has a skeleton in the closet or a skeleton in the cupboard, they have a secret that would cause great embarrassment or shame if other people knew about it. But everybody's got vices, haven't they? There's always a skeleton in the closet somewhere. Note: This expression is variable. Show me somebody with no skeletons in their cupboard, and I'll show you a skilful liar.

See also: closet, skeleton

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

a skeleton in the ˈcupboard/ˈcloset

something shocking, embarrassing, etc. that has happened to you or your family in the past that you want to keep secret: The new presidential candidate is certainly popular, but does he have any skeletons in the closet?

skeleton in (one's) closet

A source of shame or disgrace, as in a family, that is kept secret.

See also: closet, skeleton

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

skeleton in the closet

A hidden shame. As if hiding a murder victim or another object that would cause great distress to the hider if found, to have a skeleton in the closet is to have a secret of any sort that you don't want revealed.

See also: closet, skeleton

Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price

See also:

a skeleton in the closet
a skeleton in the cupboard/closet
skeleton in closet
skeleton in the closet
skeleton in the/(one's) cupboard
a skeleton in the cupboard
never live (something) down
like a dog's dinner
live down
like a dog's breakfast

词组	skeleton in the/(one's) closet
释义	skeleton in the/(one's) closet skeleton in the/(one's) closet An embarrassing or shameful secret. Primarily heard in US. If you've got a skeleton in the closet, it will probably be exposed during this campaign. He didn't believe me when I said that I didn't have any skeletons in my closet. See also: closet, skeleton Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. skeleton(s) in the closet a hidden and shocking secret. You can ask anyone about how reliable I am. I don't mind. I don't have any skeletons in the closet. My uncle was in jail for a day once. That's our family's skeleton in the closet. See also: closet, skeleton McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. skeleton in the closet A shameful secret, as in Both her parents were alcoholics; that was the skeleton in her closet. This metaphoric term alludes to a murder victim long concealed in a closet, possibly based on some true incident that is now forgotten. [Early 1800s] See also: closet, skeleton The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. a skeleton in the closet BRITISH, AMERICAN or a skeleton in the cupboard BRITISH COMMON If someone has a skeleton in the closet or a skeleton in the cupboard, they have a secret that would cause great embarrassment or shame if other people knew about it. But everybody's got vices, haven't they? There's always a skeleton in the closet somewhere. Note: This expression is variable. Show me somebody with no skeletons in their cupboard, and I'll show you a skilful liar. See also: closet, skeleton Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. a skeleton in the ˈcupboard/ˈcloset something shocking, embarrassing, etc. that has happened to you or your family in the past that you want to keep secret: The new presidential candidate is certainly popular, but does he have any skeletons in the closet? See also: closet, cupboard, skeleton Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary skeleton in (one's) closet A source of shame or disgrace, as in a family, that is kept secret. See also: closet, skeleton American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. skeleton in the closet A hidden shame. As if hiding a murder victim or another object that would cause great distress to the hider if found, to have a skeleton in the closet is to have a secret of any sort that you don't want revealed. See also: closet, skeleton Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price See also: a skeleton in the closet a skeleton in the cupboard/closet skeleton in closet skeleton in the closet skeleton in the/(one's) cupboard a skeleton in the cupboard never live (something) down like a dog's dinner live down like a dog's breakfast
随便看	LIRGAS list list among list as list as long as (one's) arm listen listen after (something) Listeners listeners never hear any good of themselves listen for listen for (someone or something) listen in listen in (on someone or something) listen out for (someone or something) listen to listen to reason listen (to someone or something) with half an ear listen up listen with half an ear listicle listing list off list (someone or something) among list (someone or something) as one of (someone or something) list to a direction