Spill the Beans

Definition

Spill the beans is an idiom meaning to reveal secret information or disclose something prematurely.

Parts of Speech

• Idiom
• Phrasal verb (intransitive/transitive)

Pronunciation

• IPA: /spɪl ðə biːnz/
• Respelling: spill thuh BEENS

Etymology

Early 20th century American English slang: possibly from voting by beans in ancient Greece, where spilling the container would reveal votes prematurely.

Derivatives

• spills the beans (3rd person)
• spilled the beans (past tense)
• spilling the beans (gerund/participle)

Synonyms

• let the cat out of the bag
• give the game away
• blurt out
• divulge

Antonyms

• keep under wraps
• hold one’s tongue
• keep a secret

Usage

The idiom "spill the beans" is used in informal and conversational contexts to describe revealing confidential information. For example, "Don’t spill the beans about the surprise party," or "He accidentally spilled the beans on the merger before the announcement."

Related Terms

• Confession: An admission of something that was secret or hidden.
• Disclosure: The act of making information known.
• Leak: Unauthorized release of private information.
• Secret: Information kept hidden from others.
• Gossip: Informal talk or rumors about others.

Detailed Definitions

Idiom / Phrasal Verb

• To reveal secret or confidential information – to make known something that was intended to remain private.
  • Example: "She promised not to spill the beans about our plans."
• To disclose prematurely – to let out information before the appropriate time.
  • Example: "He spilled the beans on the product launch a week early."