skeletons in the/someone's closet
phrase
informal
: something bad or embarrassing that happened in someone's past and that is kept secret
He asked if she had any skeletons in her closet that might affect her political campaign.
Cite this Entry
“Skeletons in the/someone's closet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skeletons%20in%20the%2Fsomeone%27s%20closet. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
