skeleton in the cupboard en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Meanings
-
(UK, idiomatic) A shameful secret.
‘I expect all families have some skeletons in the cupboards,’ Robina said with a smile of understanding. ‘I know I have some relatives who embarrass me, but you have done nothing to be ashamed of that I can see.[…]’
2005, Eileen Knowles, chapter 11, in Roses for Robina (Linford Romance Library), large print edition, Leicester, Leicestershire: Linford, published 2017, →ISBN, page 292:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| skeletons in the cupboard | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| skeleton in one's cupboard | alternative | lexicographic | |
| skeletons in the cupboards | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
skeleton in the closet · skeleton in the house
Translations (25)
lt kompromatas (shameful secret) · de Leiche im Keller (shameful secret) · nl lijk in de kast (shameful secret) · nb skjelett i skapet (shameful secret) · cs kostlivec ve skříni (shameful secret) · pl trup w szafie (shameful secret) · fr squelette dans le placard (shameful secret) · it scheletro nell'armadio (shameful secret) · nan-hbl 家醜 /家丑 (shameful secret) · de Dreck am Stecken (shameful secret) · el σκελετός στην ντουλάπα (shameful secret) · ru скеле́т в шкафу́ (shameful secret) · yue 家醜 /家丑 (shameful secret) · pl szkielet w szafie (shameful secret) · et luukere kapis (shameful secret) · da skelet i skabet (shameful secret) · nan-hbl ka-chhiú (shameful secret) · pt esqueleto no armário (shameful secret) · fi luuranko kaapissa (shameful secret) · es esqueleto en el armario (shameful secret) · kmr şerrnizariya veşartî (shameful secret) · ru семе́йная та́йна (shameful secret) · fr cadavre dans le placard (shameful secret) · sv skelett i garderoben (shameful secret) · cmn 家醜 /家丑 (shameful secret)