Phrase Finder

Idioms · 5 entries

Secrets

What does "Secrets" mean?

A secret and possibly ruinous source of shame.

A skeleton in the closet (or cupboard)

The United Kingdom.

Hear it on the grapevine

USA

Let the cat out of the bag

Britain, 18th century.

Off the record

USA, 1930s.

Straight from the horses mouth

Uncertain origin, probably 20th century USA.

Entry 1

A skeleton in the closet (or cupboard)

Meaning A secret and possibly ruinous source of shame.

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

Example

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

Pronunciation

Entry 2

Hear it on the grapevine

Meaning Hear rumors about something from an anonymous informal contact.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The girls in the dorm were talking and I heard it on the grapevine that Judy is pregnant.

Pronunciation

Entry 3

Let the cat out of the bag

Meaning Share a secret that wasn't intended to be shared.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I thought Mom already knew Jenny was pregnant. She was furious when I mentioned her pre-natal check and let the cat out of the bag.

Pronunciation

Entry 4

Off the record

Meaning Something said in confidence that the one speaking doesn't want repeated.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The minister won't talk to reporters since his last off the record briefing got into the papers.

Pronunciation

Entry 5

Straight from the horses mouth

Meaning Heard from the authoritative source.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • There's going to be an election in May. My sister is the Prime Ministers secretary so I got that straight from the horses mouth.

Pronunciation