skeletons in the/someone's cupboard
idiom
British, 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 cupboard that might affect her political campaign.
Cite this Entry
“Skeletons in the/someone's cupboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skeletons%20in%20the%2Fsomeone%27s%20cupboard. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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