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Spill the Beans

Learn what 'spill the beans' means and how to use this popular English idiom.

Spill the Beans

To spill the beans means to reveal a secret or tell someone information that was supposed to stay private.

Example

We were planning a surprise party, but Jake spilled the beans.

Another example

Come on, spill the beans! What happened at the meeting?

When do people use it?

People often use this expression when someone:

  • reveals a secret
  • gives away a surprise
  • shares information earlier than expected
  • finally tells others what they know

Easy way to remember it

Imagine a container full of beans representing a secret.

Once the beans spill out, you cannot easily put them all back.

In the same way, once a secret is