skeleton in the cupboard
1
a secret, embarrassing, or shameful fact from the past that someone tries to keep hidden
- Everyone has a skeleton in the cupboard they'd rather forget.
- The politician's skeleton in the cupboard finally came to light.
- She feared her skeleton in the cupboard would ruin her reputation.
- There's a skeleton in the cupboard in every family.
- His skeleton in the cupboard involved a long-forgotten legal dispute.