PhrasesHub

Skeleton in the closet

    Definitions

      • a hidden shameful or embarrassing secret
        to refer to a deep, dark secret that someone is hiding and is ashamed of

      • a hidden problem or issue
        to refer to a problem or issue that is being concealed and could cause trouble if it is revealed

    Examples of Skeleton in the closet

    • Sarah kept her daughter's Addiction as a Skeleton in the Closet, fearing it would ruin her chances of getting a job.

      This idiom means that Sarah was hiding her daughter's addiction from others as if it were a dark and hidden secret, much like a skeleton stored in a closet. She was doing this to protect her daughter's job prospects, fearing that the revelation of her addiction could negatively impact them. It shows that the speaker may be ashamed or embarrassed about a particular secret and tries to keep it hidden from the world.

    • Mark's past criminal record was the Skeleton in his Cupboard, something he had to keep hidden from his new boss.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to refer to a person's past mistakes or misdeeds, which they may want to hide from others. Just as a skeleton is kept hidden in a cupboard, the speaker is concealing their past misdeeds, which they do not want anyone else to know. In this case, Mark was trying to keep his past criminal record a secret because he did not want it to affect his job prospects with his new boss.

    • Tom's Family has always been a Skeleton in his Business, something he never talked about with his partners or investors.

      This example shows how the idiom can be applied to a person's family history or background, which they may want to keep hidden from others. Just as a skeleton in a cupboard is kept hidden from view, Tom was keeping his family history hidden from his business partners and investors. He did not want this part of his background to affect his professional relationships and opportunities.

    • Rachel's father's suicide was the Skeleton in the Family Closet, something that had been hushed up for years.

      This example shows how the idiom can be applied to a family's darkest secrets, which may have been concealed for a long time. Just as a skeleton is kept hidden in a cupboard, Rachel's family had been keeping her father's suicide a secret for years. This example shows how some families may want to keep certain secrets hidden, possibly to avoid shame or embarrassment, or in some cases, to protect the privacy of the deceased.

    • Sophie kept a skeleton in the closet as part of her macabre art collection.

      The idiom "skeleton in the closet" is often used to describe a secret that someone is hiding. In this example, Sophie's secret is her unusual hobby, which involves owning a human skeleton. However, by describing it as part of her art collection, Sophie may be trying to make it sound less sinister and more fascinating.

    • The scandal that rocked the senator's campaign involved a skeleton in the closet.

      In this example, the phrase "skeleton in the closet" is being used metaphorically to describe a damaging secret that could ruin someone's reputation. In this case, it refers to a secret that was revealed during the senator's election campaign, which threatened to derail his chances of victory.

    • Before joining the society, John had to confess his skeleton in the closet to the initiation committee.

      Here, the idiom is being used in the context of joining a secret society or organization. The idea is that in order to gain entry, the applicant must reveal any secrets or scandals that could discredit them in the eyes of the society's members.

    • The detective scoured the murder scene, looking for any clues that might reveal the victim's skeleton in the closet.

      This example uses the idiom in a more literal sense, as the detective searches for evidence that might lead to a hidden secret or past wrongdoing that could have contributed to the murder. It could be something as simple as a hidden envelope containing blackmail material, or as complex as a long-buried affair.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "skeleton in the closet" is used to describe a hidden shameful or embarrassing secret, or a hidden problem or issue that could cause trouble if it is revealed. It is often used in a metaphorical sense to refer to something negative that is being kept hidden.

    Origin of "Skeleton in the closet"

    The origin of the idiom "skeleton in the closet" can be traced back to the 19th century. The phrase is believed to have originated from the practice of medical schools using real skeletons for anatomical study and research. These skeletons were often kept in closets or cupboards, away from public view.

    Over time, the phrase evolved to take on a more figurative meaning, referring to hidden secrets or problems that someone is keeping concealed. The use of "skeleton" to represent something hidden and potentially shameful or embarrassing has become a common metaphor in the English language. Today, the idiom "skeleton in the closet" is widely used to describe hidden secrets or problems that could cause trouble if they were to be revealed.