Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

skeleton in the closet

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.63 in modern English

Syllables: skele-ton in the -clos-et
IPA

28

Scrabble Score

19

Letters

4

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A shameful secret.

American usage

Example Sentences

""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.""
"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."

Usage

American usage

Inflected Forms

skeletons in the closet (plural) skeletons in the closets (plural) skeleton in one's closet (alternative)

Synonyms

skeleton in the cupboard skeleton in the house skeleton

Questions

What does skeleton in the closet mean?: A shameful secret.

How to pronounce skeleton in the closet

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “skeleton in the closet”.
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