Idiomer
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English · Idiom Attested

spill the beans

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Also seen as: spilled the beans · spilling the beans

Meaning · English

To reveal a secret or disclose private information, usually accidentally or before the right moment.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Tiết lộ bí mật hoặc thông tin riêng tư, thường là vô tình hoặc không đúng lúc

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Literally: To tip over a container of beans.

How to use it

✓ Use it when

Casual conversation about someone revealing a surprise, plan, or secret early.

✗ Avoid it when

Formal or legal writing about disclosure; use “disclose” or “reveal” instead.

Register: informalConnotation: neutralEra: Early 20th century – present

Where it’s used: Used Widespread English

Examples

We were planning a surprise party, but Marco spilled the beans the day before.
Come on, spill the beans — what did she say?

Editorial example (illustrative, not a corpus attestation)

Equivalents & related

Near equivalent spill the tea To share gossip or juicy details, especially about other people’s business or drama. English Near equivalent let the cat out of the bag To reveal a secret, usually carelessly or by mistake. English

Topics: Food

Common questions

What does “spill the beans” mean?

To reveal a secret or disclose private information, usually accidentally or before the right moment. Literally: To tip over a container of beans.

Is “spill the beans” formal or informal?

spill the beans is generally informal; connotation: neutral.

What is the closest equivalent?

“spill the tea” (English) — near equivalent.