skeleton in the/(one's) cupboard

skeleton in the/(one's) cupboard

An embarrassing or shameful secret. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. If you've got a skeleton in the cupboard, it will probably be exposed during this campaign. He didn't believe me when I said that I didn't have any skeletons in my cupboard.

See also: cupboard, skeleton

a skeleton in the cupboard

a discreditable or embarrassing fact that someone wishes to keep secret.

A US variant of this expression is a skeleton in the closet .

See also: cupboard, skeleton

a skeleton in the ˈcupboard/ˈcloset

something shocking, embarrassing, etc. that has happened to you or your family in the past that you want to keep secret: The new presidential candidate is certainly popular, but does he have any skeletons in the closet?

See also: closet, cupboard, skeleton