Spill the Beans: What Does The Interesting Idiom "Spill the Beans" Mean?

Spill the Beans! In the following lesson, you will find out the definition, origin, useful example sentences with ESL infographic of the idiom “Spill the Beans”.

An idiom is a common word or phrase which means something different from its literal meaning but can be understood because of their popular use.

Because idioms can mean something different from what the words mean it is difficult for someone not very good at speaking the language to use them properly. Some idioms are only used by some groups of people or at certain times.

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Spill the Beans

Spill the Beans Meaning

When someone “spill the beans”, It means he/she reveals a secret information or to give something away, especially to do so maliciously. To be more clearly, if your friend warns you not to spill the beans, it means she/he doesn’t want you to tell any one her/his secret.

Origin of Spill the Beans

The derivation of this expression is sometimes said to be a voting system used in ancient Greece. While spill seems to have been used since the sixteenth century to mean “divulge,” the phrase spill the beans comes from the early twentieth century United States. In addition to beans, early versions had people spilling both soup and guts.

Example Sentences

Trust her to spill the beans, she never could keep a secret.
They spill the beans, exposing the practice for what it is.
Don’t spill the beans. It’s supposed to be a secret.
They spill the beans, exposing the practice for what it is.
Jim couldn’t bring himself to spill the beans.
When you see your friend’s guy with another girl, do you spill the beans?
He gave me a look which made me wonder whether David hadn’t, after all, spilled the beans.
What do you think I’m here for tea and biscuits? Spill the beans already!
OK it’s time for one of you to spill the beans. Who broke my lamp?
This is a secret, don’t spill the beans to anybody.
Someone spilled the beans about Ron’s surprise party.
Although they didn’t spill the beans, the principal already knew.
He is sure to spill the beans before long.
She might just decide to kill you, in case you spill the beans.
He had not been on the verge of spilling the beans – people just die, that’s all.
It is very important for me. So you can’t spill the beans.
You can’t keep a secret – you see no reason why you shouldn’t spill the beans.