# spill the beans

idiom · CEFR B1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/spill-the-beans
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To reveal a secret; to disclose information.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

Early 20th-century American slang, where 'spill' meant to divulge; the popular story about ancient Greek voting with beans is folk etymology. (folk)

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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.