verb phrase🎓 English idiom

spill the beans

to reveal a secret

What it means

To reveal secret or private information, often accidentally or before the right moment. It's used informally when someone discloses something that was meant to stay hidden.

Examples

  • Don't spill the beans about the surprise party before Saturday.
  • He accidentally spilled the beans about their engagement at dinner.
  • Come on, spill the beans, who got the promotion?
  • She promised not to spill the beans, but the news leaked anyway.

Where it comes from

The origin is uncertain, but it likely comes from early 20th-century American slang; a popular but unproven theory links it to ancient voting with beans that could be knocked over and revealed.

Related idioms

#let the cat out of the bag#bite your tongue#zip your lip#give someone a piece of your mind

🎓 Think you know your idioms?

Take the English Idioms Test — 20 terms, instant result, no signup.

Take the test

Built by the team behind Deep In.