spill the beans
To reveal a secret; to disclose information.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Come on, spill the beans about your new job.”
“She promised not to spill the beans about the surprise engagement.”
“Under gentle questioning from the reporter, the nervous assistant finally spilled the beans about what really happened.”
folk etymology
Early 20th-century American slang, where 'spill' meant to divulge; the popular story about ancient Greek voting with beans is folk etymology.
- 01
bean counter
A person who is excessively interested in controlling or reducing expenses, increasing profits, or in quantitative details in general.
- 02
cry over spilt milk
To worry about unfortunate events which have already happened and which cannot be changed.
- 03
for beans
Synonym of at all.
- 04
full of beans
Energetic and enthusiastic.
- 05
give someone beans
To scold or reprimand someone severely.
- 06
know beans about
To know nothing, or almost nothing, about.
- 07
spill ink
To write, especially professionally.
- 08
spill juice
To bleed as a result of a gunshot wound or stab wound; spill blood.
Last updated August 10, 2026