spill the beans
Definition
The meaning: Spill the beans is an informal idiom meaning to reveal a secret, disclose confidential information, or let something slip unintentionally.
La signification: L’expression spill the beans signifie révéler un secret ou divulguer une information confidentielle, souvent par erreur ou accident. Par exemple, si quelqu’un raconte ce qui était censé rester secret, on dit que "he or she spilled the beans".
Note: Cette expression est courante dans la conversation quotidienne et n’est ni vulgaire ni grossière.
Word Analysis
French equivalents » Vendre la mèche » Cracher le morceau » Dévoiler le pot aux roses » Laisser échapper un secret A: Tu sais qui va organiser la fête surprise ? B: Oui, mais je ne veux pas vendre la mèche ! English equivalents » Let the cat out of the bag » Give the game away » Blurt out a secret A: Did you tell anyone about the promotion? B: No, I didn’t spill the beans.
Dialogue
Billy: "I heard you know what the big announcement is."
Mathilda: "I do, but I promised not to spill the beans!"
Etymology
Origin: The phrase spill the beans dates back to early 20th-century American English. Its exact origin is debated, but one theory is that it comes from an ancient voting system using beans, where spilling them would reveal the results (the secret). Over time, it came to mean revealing any secret or inside information.
Audience
The idiom "spill the beans" is informal but polite. It is suitable for everyday conversation, storytelling, and even in some professional contexts, but not in highly formal writing.
When to use: Use it when talking about someone revealing a secret or surprise, for example: "Don’t spill the beans about the party — it’s a surprise!"
Dictionary Meaning
The Free Dictionary says that it means "To reveal something that was meant to be a secret." Here's a provided example of use:
"There is a surprise party for Heidi on Wednesday. Please don't spill the beans."
News Snippet
"The world’s premier photojournalistic competition cannot afford to play fast and loose with these rules. Yet this is not the first time they have failed to act against photographers who have been found to be less than truthful. The Magnum photographer Paolo Pellegrin was awarded second place for his 2012 images from Rochester, USA. At least two of the images were proven to be staged after Pellegrin’s fixer, a local photography student, spilled the beans that the image of the “former Marine sniper” in a garage in a dangerous neighbourhood was no such thing."
Read the full article at the Daily Maverick
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Common Idioms & Expressions Related to "Spill the Beans"
Spill the Beans
To reveal a secret or disclose confidential information, often unintentionally.
Example: "Don’t spill the beans about the surprise party!"
Let the Cat Out of the Bag
To accidentally reveal a secret or surprise.
Example: "He let the cat out of the bag and told everyone about the new project."
Give the Game Away
To reveal something that was meant to be kept secret, especially by accident.
Example: "Her smile gave the game away."
Blurt Out
To say something suddenly and without thinking, often a secret or sensitive information.
Example: "He blurted out the answer before anyone else could respond."
Let Slip
To accidentally reveal something that was supposed to be a secret.
Example: "She let slip that they were planning a trip."
Vendre la mèche
A French idiom meaning to reveal a secret; literally, "to sell the wick."
Exemple : "Ne vends pas la mèche, c’est une surprise !"
Cracher le morceau
Another French idiom meaning to confess or reveal the truth; literally, "to spit out the piece."
Exemple : "Il a fini par cracher le morceau."
Let Out
To make something known that was supposed to be secret.
Example: "Who let out the news about the merger?"
Divulge
A more formal verb meaning to make known (something private or secret).
Example: "He refused to divulge any details."
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