# skeleton in the closet

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/skeleton-in-the-closet
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A shameful secret.

## Examples

- Everyone has a skeleton in the closet.
- He was worried that his new business partner might have a skeleton in the closet from his past.
- The politician feared that the investigative journalist would uncover a long-hidden skeleton in the closet that could destroy his reputation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.