Origins: Skeletons in the closet

The phrase "skeletons in the closet" is an idiom that refers to a hidden or embarrassing secret from a person's past. The origin of this expression is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have originated in the 19th century.

One possible explanation is that the phrase comes from Gothic literature, particularly from stories involving hidden family secrets and mysterious pasts. In Gothic novels, it was not uncommon for characters to discover shocking or scandalous revelations about their ancestors, often involving hidden corpses or skeletons hidden away in closets or secret rooms.

Another theory suggests that the phrase may have originated from actual instances of discovering hidden skeletons or bodies in houses. In the past, it was not uncommon for people to bury deceased family members in or near their homes, especially during times when proper burial grounds were not easily accessible. When subsequent generations moved into these homes, they might stumble upon these hidden remains, leading to the metaphorical use of "skeletons in the closet" to describe hidden secrets.

Regardless of its exact origin, the phrase "skeletons in the closet" has become widely used to describe any kind of embarrassing or incriminating secret that someone may be hiding from others. It implies that the secret is something unpleasant or shameful, and the person wants to keep it hidden away, just like skeletons would be kept out of sight in a closet.

Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model