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skeletons in the/someone's closet

idiom

Definition of skeletons in the/someone's closet

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.

Word by Word Definitions

skeleton play skeletons

  1. : a usually rigid supportive or protective structure or framework of an organism

  2. : something reduced to its minimum form or essential parts

  3. : an emaciated person or animal

  1. : of, consisting of, or resembling a skeleton

See the full definition of skeleton
someone play

  1. : some person : somebody

See the full definition of someone
closet play

  1. : an apartment or small room for privacy

  2. : a monarch's or official's private chamber

  3. : a cabinet or recess for especially china, household utensils, or clothing

  1. : to shut up in or as if in a closet

  2. : to take into a closet for a secret interview

  1. : closely private

  2. : working in or suited to the closet as the place of seclusion or study : theoretical

  3. : being so in private

See the full definition of closet

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