Spill the Beans | Meaning, Origin & Examples
Spill the beans is an English idiom that means “prematurely reveal confidential information.” If you accidentally inform your friend about her upcoming surprise birthday party, then you have spilled the beans.
Thomas got Clara to spill the beans, and he found out where they were going for their anniversary trip.
It took a while, but I got my brother to spill the beans about the gifts I got for Christmas.
How to use spill the beans
Like “once in a blue moon” and “take it with a grain of salt,” “spill the beans” is an idiom (i.e., an expression that cannot be understood from the meaning of its individual words). It’s a colloquial way to say “disclose secret or private information.”
If someone asks you not to spill the beans, they are requesting that you keep certain matters to yourself.
“Spill the beans” is commonly used in casual conversation and not in formal contexts.
Don’t go spilling the beans about us going to the water park for summer vacation.
If I were you, I wouldn’t tell Daisy any secrets because she always spills the beans.
Please don’t spill the beans and tell her that I’m going to pick her up early from school.
I accidentally spilled the beans and told the office about the upcoming party.
Spill the beans origin
It is believed that “spill the beans” originated from a voting method used in ancient Greece. Anonymous votes were cast by placing colored beans in a can. White beans counted as an affirmative vote, whereas dark-colored beans represented a negative vote.
Sometimes the can would be “spilled” prematurely, revealing the secret votes. However, this explanation is just a theory, as there is no direct evidence that links the expression to this ancient voting method.
Spill the beans synonyms
There are several other phrases that can be used in place of “spill the beans.” More formal alternatives include:
- Reveal confidential information (e.g., “The boss asked me not to reveal confidential information.”)
- Expose secrets (e.g., “I don’t trust Jeremy. All he does is expose secrets.”)
- Disclose private matters (e.g., “I asked them to sign an NDA to ensure they don’t disclose private matters.”)
Other casual, more idiomatic expressions include:
- Let the cat out of the bag (e.g., “Whoops! I accidentally let the cat out of the bag.”)
- Babble (e.g., “Don’t babble to mom about me coming home late last night.”)
- Blab out (e.g., “Why did you blab out my secret?”)
Frequently asked questions about spill the beans
- Is spill the beans a metaphor?
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No, “spill the beans” is an idiom, not a metaphor.
An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood based on the meaning of the individual words that comprise it (e.g., “once in a blue moon”).
A metaphor compares two unrelated things by stating that one is (or isn’t) like the other (e.g., “Laura is the light of my life.”)
- Is it spilt the beans or spilled the beans?
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“Spilt the beans” is a variant of “spilled the beans,” although the latter is more popular. “Spilt” is sometimes used as the past tense and past participle of “spilled” in British English. Both phrases mean “to reveal private information.”
You can use QuillBot’s Grammar Checker to make sure you are consistent in your use of spilt or spilled.
- What does spill the tea mean?
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“Spill the tea” and “spill the beans” are closely related idioms that mean “reveal secret information.” However, “spill the tea” is more closely related to “gossip,” whereas “spill the beans” is often used when someone unintentionally or prematurely discloses private information.
