- To reveal a secret or disclose information that was supposed to be kept confidential, often accidentally or indiscreetly.
Explanation
Origin
- The origin is uncertain, but a popular theory relates to an ancient Greek voting system.
- Secret societies allegedly used beans for voting – white beans for yes, black beans for no. Votes were cast into a jar.
- If someone accidentally knocked over the jar, the beans would spill out, revealing the results prematurely.
- Thus, spilling the beans came to mean revealing secret information.
- Other theories exist, but this one is widely cited. The phrase gained popularity in the US in the early 20th century.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Dish the dirt / Dish (Reveal gossip or secrets)
- Spill the tea (Modern slang, very similar to spill the beans, especially for gossip/drama)
- Let it slip (Implies accidental revelation)
- Blab / Blabbermouth (Negative term for someone who reveals secrets carelessly)
- Sing like a canary (Inform on others, often in a criminal context)
Milder/Standard:
- Reveal the secret
- Tell me what happened
- Disclose the information
- Share the news
More Formal:
- Divulge confidential information
- Make a disclosure
Situational Appropriateness
- Informal.
- Very common in casual conversation.
- Generally too informal for serious or professional contexts where disclose information or reveal confidential details would be used.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Learners might take it literally. Explain the metaphorical meaning of revealing secrets, possibly mentioning the voting origin theory.
Examples
- Come on, spill the beans! Who told you about the surprise party?
- He accidentally spilled the beans about their engagement before they announced it.
- Don't spill the beans to anyone, but I'm planning to quit my job.
Dialogue
Maria: You look like you know something I don't. What's going on?
Sam: Oh, nothing...
Maria: Come on, spill the beans! I know you heard about the office reorganization.
Sam: Okay, fine! But keep it quiet. Apparently, our department might be merging with marketing.
Social Media Examples
- Tweet: Okay, someone needs to spill the beans on what actually happened at the end of that season finale! I'm confused. #TVshow #spoilers(?)
- Instagram Story Poll: Should I spill the beans about my exciting new project? YES / NOT YET
- Comment: Come on @CelebrityNews, spill the beans! Are the rumors true?
Response Patterns
When asked to spill the beans:
- Revealing the information: Okay, okay! Here's what happened...
- Refusing (playfully or seriously): My lips are sealed! / I can't tell you! / Wouldn't you like to know?
- Hesitating: Well... I don't know if I should say...
When hearing someone spilled the beans:
- Surprise/Disbelief: Really? He told?
- Annoyance (if the secret was important): Oh no! I can't believe he did that.
- Curiosity: What did he say?
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After someone agrees to spill the beans:
- Listening intently to the secret/information.
- Asking clarifying questions.
After hearing someone else spilled the beans:
- Discussing the consequences of the revealed secret.
- Asking who else knows now.
Conversation Starter
- Yes, in the imperative form (Spill the beans!) it can be used to prompt someone to start sharing information or secrets you suspect they have.
Intonation
- When requesting information (Spill the beans!), stress is on spill and beans, with an eager, questioning intonation. SPILL the BEANS!
- When describing an action, stress is similar but with a narrative tone. He SPILLED the BEANS about the party.
Generation Differences
- Widely understood and used across all generations.
Regional Variations
- Common across all major English-speaking regions.