a skeleton in the closet

a skeleton in the closet
(a skeleton in the closet (или in the cupboard; тж. family skeleton))
семейная тайна; тайна, скрываемая от посторонних [выражение введено в литературу У. Теккереем]

And it is from these that we shall arrive at some particulars regarding the Newcome family, which will show us that they have a skeleton or two in their closets, as well as their neighbours. (W. Thackeray, ‘The Newcomes’, ch. LV) — И от этих людей мы узнаем некоторые подробности, касающиеся семьи Ньюкомов, которые покажут нам, что у них, так же как и у их соседей, имеются семейные тайны.

‘You don't want it to come into Court?’ ‘No, though I suppose it might be rather fun.’ Mr. Settlewhite smiled again. ‘That entirely depends on how many skeletons you have in your cupboard.’ (J. Galsworthy, ‘The Silver Spoon’, part I, ch. XIII) — - Вы не хотите суда? - Не хочу, хотя, пожалуй, это было бы забавно. Мистер Сетлуайт опять улыбнулся. - Это смотря по тому, сколько у вас за душой тайных грехов.

Then the Victorians kept skeletons in cupboards, but who cares about a mere Skeleton now? (Gr. Greene, ‘The Comedians’, part I, ch. V) — В викторианскую эпоху люди держали свои тайны под замком, но разве такими тайнами, теперь кого-нибудь испугаешь?


Большой англо-русский фразеологический словарь. - М.: «Русский язык-Медиа».. 2006.

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Смотреть что такое "a skeleton in the closet" в других словарях:

  • skeleton in the cupboard (N. Amer. skeleton in the closet) — a discreditable or embarrassing fact that someone wishes to keep secret. → skeleton …   English new terms dictionary

  • skeleton in the closet — If someone has a skeleton in the closet, they have a dark, shameful secret in their past that they want to remain secret …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • skeleton in the closet —    If someone has a skeleton in the closet, they have a dark, shameful secret in their past that they want to remain secret.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • skeleton in the closet — unpleasant secrets, old scandals    Every family has a skeleton in the closet a dark secret or two …   English idioms

  • skeleton in the closet or cupboard — idi skeleton in the closet or cupboard any embarrassing, shameful, or damaging secret …   From formal English to slang

  • Skeleton in the closet —   If someone has a skeleton in the closet, they have a dark, shameful secret in their past that they want to remain secret …   Dictionary of English idioms

  • (a) skeleton in the closet — a skeleton in the ˈcupboard idiom (BrE) (also a skeleton in the ˈcloset NAmE, BrE) ( …   Useful english dictionary

  • skeleton in the closet — noun a scandal that is kept secret there must be a skeleton somewhere in that family s closet • Syn: ↑skeleton, ↑skeleton in the cupboard • Hypernyms: ↑scandal, ↑outrage * * * skeleton in the cupboard …   Useful english dictionary

  • skeleton in the closet — noun A shameful secret. Syn: skeleton in the cupboard …   Wiktionary

  • (a) skeleton in the closet — a skeleton in the/(someone s) closet a secret that would cause embarrassment if it were known. People almost always have skeletons in their closets, parts of their lives they don t want to reveal …   New idioms dictionary

  • skeleton in the closet — {n. phr.} A shameful secret; someone or something kept hidden, especially by a family. * /The skeleton in our family closet was Uncle Willie. No one mentioned him because he drank too much./ …   Dictionary of American idioms


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