John Hancock

[0828] Spill the beans

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English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • To reveal a secret or disclose confidential information, often prematurely or indiscreetly.

Origin

  • The exact origin is uncertain, but several theories exist.
  • One popular theory involves an ancient Greek voting system using beans (e.g., white for yes, black for no) placed secretly into a jar. If someone knocked over the jar, spilling the beans, the secret vote would be revealed before the official count.
  • Another theory relates to secret societies where initiation rituals or voting might have involved beans, and spilling them would expose something meant to be kept hidden.
  • The idiom appeared in American English in the early 20th century.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Let the cat out of the bag
  • Reveal a secret
  • Tell all
  • Dish the dirt (informal, implies gossip)
  • Give the game away
  • Let slip (often implies accidental revelation)
  • Blow the gaff (UK informal)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Dish the dirt / Dish (implies gossip)
  • Give up the goods
  • Spit it out (more forceful demand to speak)
  • Fess up (confess)
  • Sing like a canary (implies revealing everything, often under pressure)

Vulgar/Emphatic (When demanding information):

  • Tell me the fucking secret!
  • What the hell happened?

Milder/Standard:

  • Reveal the information
  • Disclose the details
  • Share the secret
  • Tell me what happened

Situational Appropriateness

  • Informal.
  • Appropriate among friends, family, or sometimes close colleagues in a casual context.
  • Avoid in formal situations or when discussing sensitive information where discretion is genuinely required.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • Non-native speakers might imagine literally spilling beans (the food). The context of revealing secrets or hidden information is crucial for understanding.

Examples

  • Okay, spill the beans! Who is she dating now?
  • My little brother spilled the beans about the surprise birthday party.
  • Don't spill the beans to Mom about the broken vase.

Dialogue

Sarah: I heard something interesting happened at the office party after I left.

Ben: Oh yeah? (Smiling)

Sarah: Don't be coy! Come on, spill the beans!

Ben: Alright, alright. Apparently, Dave from accounting challenged the CEO to a dance-off.

Sarah: No way! Who won?

Social Media Examples

  • Tweet: Someone needs to spill the beans about the plot twist in the season finale! The suspense is killing me! #TVShow #SpoilersMaybe
  • Instagram Story Poll: Should I spill the beans about my secret project? YES / NOT YET 😉
  • Comment: He finally spilled the beans on why he moved across the country. Turns out he got his dream job!

Response Patterns

  • Revealing the information: Okay, okay, here's what I heard...
  • Refusing to reveal: Nope, my lips are sealed. / I can't tell you. / I promised I wouldn't say.
  • Deflecting: Why do you ask? / What do you think happened?

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

  • If the beans are spilled: Asking for more details (Really? Tell me more!). Expressing surprise or reacting to the news.
  • If the person refuses: Playful persistence (Aw, come on!), respecting their silence, or trying to guess.

Conversation Starter

  • Yes, in informal settings when you suspect someone has interesting news or gossip they aren't sharing. I feel like you know something... spill the beans!

Intonation

  • Often used playfully or with urgent curiosity when requesting information.
  • Can also be used in a neutral or warning tone when advising against revealing something.
  • Stress typically on spill and beans.
  • SPILL the BEANS! (request) or Don't SPILL the BEANS. (warning)

Generation Differences

  • Common and understood across most generations.

Regional Variations

  • Widely used and understood in most major English-speaking countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.).
John Hancock
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