SPILLING THE BEANS Meaning and
Definition
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Spilling the beans is an idiomatic expression used to describe the action of revealing a secret or disclosing confidential information that was intended to be kept hidden or unknown. This phrase is often associated with accidentally or unintentionally letting slip sensitive information during casual conversation or a discussion among friends, family, or colleagues.
The metaphorical origin of this phrase can be traced back to ancient Greece, where beans were commonly used in voting. Beans were deposited into a container to determine the outcome of a decision, with a black bean representing a negative vote and a white bean representing a positive one. If someone accidentally tipped or overturned the container, the beans would spill out, allowing others to see the secret votes and thus undermining the integrity of the confidential process.
In the modern context, "spilling the beans" implies a similar breach of confidentiality. It often suggests that someone has divulged information that may cause embarrassment, damage relationships, or disrupt plans. The phrase can also carry a sense of unintended consequences, as the person disclosing the secret may not have realized the impact their words would have.
Furthermore, "spilling the beans" implies that the information revealed was previously hidden or unknown to the audience. This makes the phrase particularly applicable in situations where a surprise or revelation is spoiled prematurely due to someone's indiscretion.
Common Misspellings for SPILLING THE BEANS
- apilling the beans
- zpilling the beans
- xpilling the beans
- dpilling the beans
- epilling the beans
- wpilling the beans
- soilling the beans
- slilling the beans
- s-illing the beans
- s0illing the beans
- spulling the beans
- spjlling the beans
- spklling the beans
- spolling the beans
- sp9lling the beans
- sp8lling the beans
- spikling the beans
- spipling the beans
- spioling the beans
- spilking the beans
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