skeleton in the closet

English

A political cartoon with the caption “a skeleton in his closet.” by cartoonist L. M. Glackens criticizing the United States government (portrayed here as Uncle Sam) protesting the exclusion of Jews in Russia while excluding Chinese immigration domestically

Alternative forms

• skeleton in one's closet

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

skeleton in the closet (plural skeletons in the closet or skeletons in the closets)

1. (US, idiomatic) A shameful secret.
   • 1913, Eleanor H. Porter, chapter 9, in Pollyanna‎^[1], L.C. Page, →OCLC:

     "Humph!" she vouchsafed. Then, showing her old-time interest, she went on: "But, say, it is queer, his speakin' to you, honestly, Miss Pollyanna. He don't speak ter no one; and he lives all alone in a great big lovely house all full of jest grand things, they say. Some says he's crazy, and some jest cross; and some says he's got a skeleton in his closet."

   • 2016, Phil Valentine, “Compromising Position”, in The Conservative’s Handbook: Defining the Right Position on Issues from A to Z, Naperville, Ill.: Cumberland House, →ISBN, chapter 3 (Character is the single most important attribute in a leader), page 35:

     I think it’s safe to say that the skeletons in the closets of some lawmakers corrupted the process, making an even stronger case for why a politician’s character is so important.

Synonyms

• skeleton in the cupboard (UK), skeleton in the house (UK, dated)

Translations

shameful secret — see skeleton in the cupboard

Further reading

• skeleton in the closet on Wikipedia.Wikipedia