Skeleton in the closet (idiom)
Encyclopedia
Skeleton in the closet or Skeleton in the cupboard is a colloquial phrase
and idiom
used to describe an undisclosed fact about someone which, if revealed, would have a negative impact on perceptions of the person. "Cupboard" is used in British English instead of the US English word "closet". It is known to have been used as a phrase, at least as early as November 1816, in the monthly British journal The Eclectic Review
,page 468. It is listed in both the Oxford English Dictionary
, and Webster's Dictionary
, under the word "skeleton". The "Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary" lists it under this but also as a separate idiom.
Colloquialism
A colloquialism is a word or phrase that is common in everyday, unconstrained conversation rather than in formal speech, academic writing, or paralinguistics. Dictionaries often display colloquial words and phrases with the abbreviation colloq. as an identifier...
and idiom
Idiom
Idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made...
used to describe an undisclosed fact about someone which, if revealed, would have a negative impact on perceptions of the person. "Cupboard" is used in British English instead of the US English word "closet". It is known to have been used as a phrase, at least as early as November 1816, in the monthly British journal The Eclectic Review
The Eclectic Review
The Eclectic Review was a British periodical published monthly during the first half of the 19th century aimed at highly literate readers of all classes. Published between 1805 and 1868, it reviewed books in many fields, including literature, history, theology, politics, science, art, and philosophy...
,page 468. It is listed in both the Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
The Oxford English Dictionary , published by the Oxford University Press, is the self-styled premier dictionary of the English language. Two fully bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989. The first edition was published in twelve volumes , and...
, and Webster's Dictionary
Webster's Dictionary
Webster's Dictionary refers to the line of dictionaries first developed by Noah Webster in the early 19th century, and also to numerous unrelated dictionaries that added Webster's name just to share his prestige. The term is a genericized trademark in the U.S.A...
, under the word "skeleton". The "Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary" lists it under this but also as a separate idiom.
See also
- Skeleton in the closet (disambiguation), list of works with this or similar titles
- ClosetedClosetedCloseted and in the closet are metaphors used to describe lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning and intersex people who have not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity and aspects thereof, including sexual identity and sexual behavior.-Background:In late 20th...
, describing nondisclosure of sexual or gender identity - Elephant in the roomElephant in the room"Elephant in the room" is an English metaphorical idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed. The idiomatic expression also applies to an obvious problem or risk no one wants to discuss....
, an English metaphorical idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed