Dictionary

spill the beans en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˌspɪl ðə ˈbiːnz/
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

First attested in 20th century American English. One possible origin for the phrase is from an Ancient Greek practice of using different-coloured beans for voting, where spilling the jar containing them would unwantedly reveal the results, though this might be folk etymology.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To reveal a secret; to disclose information.
   • More unsettling was the origin story of the infamous tell-all book Princess in Love. Diana claimed to be outraged in 1994 when Daily Express journalist Anna Pasternak spilled the beans of her affair with former army officer James Hewitt[…] April 5 2022, Tina Brown, “How Princess Diana’s Dance With the Media Impacted William and Harry”, in Vanity Fair:
   • He accepted a contract to kill you and Frank DePalma. You because she couldn't be sure what Wennington had told you, and Frank because he got cold feet and was about to spill the beans. 2017, Wade Fowler, The Honey Trap:
   • I guarantee you, someone's going to spill the beans and next thing this shit's all over the news. 2008, Patricia Cornwell, Point Of Origin:
   • Shall we meet up for a meal and I think I can be persuaded to spill the beans if I drink enough wine. 2022, Spencer Coleman, Facade:
   • They had planned it as a surprise party, but somebody spilled the beans.

Forms

Deriveds

beanspilling

Synonyms

let the cat out of the bag · spill one's guts · spill the tea

Translations (48)

sh одати тајну (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · bg проговоря (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · de ausplaudern (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · it gettare il sangue (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · hu elárul (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · es cantar de plano (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · sh progovoriti (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · fr vendre la mèche (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · ro trăda un secret (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · is kjafta frá (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · he הִלְשִׁין (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · scn curtigghiari (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · fi paljastaa (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · el χύνω το τσάι (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · so daadin digirta (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · bg издавам тайната (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · de alles verraten (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · pl uchylać rąbka tajemnicy (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · hy թափել թեյը (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · is leysa frá skjóðunni (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · da spilde teen (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · nl een boekje opendoen (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · es soltar la sopa (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · pl puszczać farbę (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · fr cracher le morceau (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · yue 爆料出嚟 (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · de auspacken (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · fi laverrella (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · cmn 露餡 /露馅 (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · ru проболта́ться (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · cy gollwng y ffa (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · sv spilla teet (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · hu eljár a szája (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · sh odati tajnu (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · it cantare (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · pl puścić farbę (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · it sputare il rospo (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · pt confessar (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · pl uchylić rąbka tajemnicy (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · es irse de la lengua (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · sh проговорити (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · ro da din casă (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · it spifferare (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · ru проговори́ться (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · it vuotare il sacco (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · hu kitálal (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · fi kieliä (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag) · fr lâcher le morceau (to reveal a secret; to disclose information — see also let the cat out of the bag)