Secrets and the act of keeping them are a universal part of human interaction, influencing how we communicate and bond with others. Whether it’s a surprise party or a confidential business deal, secrets add a layer of intrigue and complexity to our lives. In this blog post, we explore 20 popular expressions related to secrets, providing clear meanings and concise examples to help you understand and use these phrases effectively in everyday conversations.
Expressions Related to Secrets
1. Skeleton in the closet
Meaning: A secret source of shame, potentially embarrassing if exposed.
Example: Everyone has a skeleton in the closet.
2. Spill the beans
Meaning: Reveal secret information unintentionally or carelessly.
Example: He spilled the beans about the surprise party.
3. Under wraps
Meaning: Kept secret.
Example: Keep the project details under wraps.
4. Behind closed doors
Meaning: Done in private, away from the public eye.
Example: The deal was made behind closed doors.
5. Keep mum
Meaning: Remain silent or not disclose information.
Example: She kept mum about the whole affair.
6. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: Reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake.
Example: He let the cat out of the bag about her promotion.
7. In confidence
Meaning: Shared with the expectation of privacy.
Example: She spoke to her friend in confidence.
8. Hush-hush
Meaning: Highly secret or confidential.
Example: The mission was hush-hush.
9. Loose lips sink ships
Meaning: Careless talk can cause disaster.
Example: Remember, loose lips sink ships.
10. Mum’s the word
Meaning: Keep the given information a secret.
Example: About the party, mum’s the word.
11. In the dark
Meaning: Uninformed, unaware of information.
Example: They kept him in the dark about their plans.
12. Cloak and dagger
Meaning: Involving secretive or mysterious actions.
Example: It was all cloak and dagger.
13. Zip your lip
Meaning: Stop talking or keep quiet.
Example: Zip your lip about this.
14. My lips are sealed
Meaning: Promise to keep a secret.
Example: Don’t worry, my lips are sealed.
15. On the QT
Meaning: Done secretly.
Example: They met on the QT.
16. Secret’s safe with me
Meaning: Promise not to reveal a secret.
Example: Your secret’s safe with me.
17. Stab someone in the back
Meaning: To betray someone’s trust.
Example: He felt stabbed in the back by his colleague.
18. Sweep under the rug
Meaning: Hide or deny something potentially embarrassing.
Example: They tried to sweep the scandal under the rug.
19. Air dirty laundry
Meaning: Publicly discuss private matters.
Example: She aired their dirty laundry in a blog post.
20. Hold your tongue
Meaning: To refrain from speaking.
Example: He had to hold his tongue during the meeting.
