spill the beans
To reveal secret information
직역: To drop or tip over a container of beans
Use `spill the beans` when someone reveals a secret, especially a surprise or a piece of juicy gossip.
15초 만에
- To reveal a secret or surprise.
- Commonly used in casual social settings.
- Often implies the secret was revealed prematurely.
뜻
This phrase means to tell a secret or reveal information that was supposed to stay hidden. It is like accidentally or intentionally opening a container and letting the secret contents fall out for everyone to see.
주요 예문
3 / 6Talking about a surprise party
I can't believe Sarah spilled the beans about her own surprise party!
I can't believe Sarah revealed the secret about her own surprise party!
Asking a friend for gossip
I saw you talking to Mark. Come on, spill the beans! What did he say?
I saw you talking to Mark. Tell me the secret! What did he say?
A workplace secret
The manager accidentally spilled the beans about the upcoming bonuses.
The manager accidentally revealed the secret about the upcoming bonuses.
문화적 배경
The phrase is deeply rooted in the idea of secret voting or hidden tallies. While its exact origin is debated, it became a staple of American and British English in the early 20th century. It reflects a cultural obsession with 'the reveal' and the social drama of shared secrets.
The 'Tea' Alternative
If you are talking to younger people (Gen Z), they often say `spill the tea` instead of beans. It means the exact same thing!
Don't use with 'The'
We usually say `spill the beans`, not `spill my beans` or `spill his beans`. The 'the' is almost always fixed.
15초 만에
- To reveal a secret or surprise.
- Commonly used in casual social settings.
- Often implies the secret was revealed prematurely.
What It Means
Spill the beans is all about secrets. Imagine you are holding a jar of beans. If you tip it over, the beans go everywhere. You cannot pick them all up easily. That is what happens with a secret. Once you say it, everyone knows. It is usually used when someone reveals a surprise or a private plan. It can be an accident or a choice.
How To Use It
You use this phrase as a verb. You can say someone spilled the beans about a party. You can also ask someone to spill the beans if you want to know a secret. It works well in the past tense (spilled) or the present continuous (is spilling). Just remember, the 'beans' are the information. Do not try to use it for actual food spills unless you want to be very punny at dinner.
When To Use It
Use this with friends and family. It is perfect for talking about surprise birthday parties. Use it when a coworker tells you who is getting promoted. It is great for texting when you are gossiping. If you are at a restaurant and your friend looks like they have a secret, lean in and whisper, "Come on, spill the beans!"
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in very serious legal or medical situations. You would not say a doctor spilled the beans about a diagnosis. It feels a bit too lighthearted for tragic news. Also, do not use it in a formal academic paper. It is a colorful idiom, not a professional report term. If you are in a high-stakes board meeting, maybe stick to "disclosed the information" instead.
Cultural Background
One popular theory comes from Ancient Greece. People used beans to vote in secret. White beans meant 'yes' and black beans meant 'no'. If someone knocked over the jar, the secret vote was revealed too early. Whether this is 100% true or not, it is a fun image. It has been a common English expression since the early 1900s. It captures that messy, unstoppable feeling of a secret getting out.
Common Variations
You might hear people just say spill it for short. Another similar phrase is let the cat out of the bag. While spill the beans is often about a specific fact, letting the cat out is usually about a larger secret or a hidden plan. In some places, people might just say "spill the tea," which is modern slang for sharing gossip.
사용 참고사항
This is a very safe idiom for intermediate learners. It is common, not offensive, and fits into almost any casual conversation. Just avoid it in formal writing or legal contexts.
The 'Tea' Alternative
If you are talking to younger people (Gen Z), they often say `spill the tea` instead of beans. It means the exact same thing!
Don't use with 'The'
We usually say `spill the beans`, not `spill my beans` or `spill his beans`. The 'the' is almost always fixed.
The Greek Connection
In ancient times, beans were used for voting. Spilling them literally meant showing how people voted before it was time!
예시
6I can't believe Sarah spilled the beans about her own surprise party!
I can't believe Sarah revealed the secret about her own surprise party!
Used here to show disappointment that a surprise was ruined.
I saw you talking to Mark. Come on, spill the beans! What did he say?
I saw you talking to Mark. Tell me the secret! What did he say?
An invitation to share interesting information.
The manager accidentally spilled the beans about the upcoming bonuses.
The manager accidentally revealed the secret about the upcoming bonuses.
Shows the phrase can be used for professional but non-legal secrets.
Don't you dare spill the beans to Mom about the broken vase!
Do not tell Mom the secret about the broken vase!
A warning to keep a secret.
My toddler spilled the beans—literally and figuratively—at the grocery store.
My toddler revealed a secret and dropped real beans at the store.
A play on words involving both the idiom and actual beans.
He finally spilled the beans after hours of questioning.
He finally revealed the truth after hours of questioning.
Used in a slightly more intense, dramatic context.
셀프 테스트
Choose the correct form of the idiom to complete the sentence.
We wanted to surprise him, but his sister ___ the beans yesterday.
The standard idiom is always `spill the beans`. 'Dropped' or 'threw' are not part of this expression.
Which situation is most appropriate for this phrase?
You would use 'spill the beans' when ___.
This is an informal idiom best suited for social and casual interactions.
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시각 학습 자료
Formality Scale for 'Spill the Beans'
Slang like 'Spill the tea'
Spill the tea, sis!
Spill the beans
Who spilled the beans about the party?
Let the cat out of the bag
The secret is out of the bag.
Disclose information
The company disclosed the data.
Where to Spill the Beans
Surprise Parties
Revealing the date early.
Office Gossip
Sharing who is quitting.
Family Secrets
Telling a sibling's secret.
Movie Spoilers
Telling the ending of a film.
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문It is not rude, but it is informal. It implies that a secret was told, which might make the person who told it look a bit clumsy or untrustworthy.
Yes, in casual conversations with coworkers. For example, Who spilled the beans about the office move? is perfectly fine.
They are very similar. Spill the beans often feels more like a conscious act of telling, while let the cat out of the bag can feel more like an accidental slip.
No, the idiom is fixed with beans. Changing the vegetable will make it sound like a mistake rather than a joke.
It is used and understood in both dialects. It is a universal English idiom.
Yes, it always refers to revealing information that was meant to be hidden or private.
Usually, it is used for 'juicy' or exciting news. For very tragic news, it might sound too lighthearted.
You use it like a regular verb phrase. Example: I'm not going to spill the beans!
Mostly yes. Spill the tea is more modern and specifically implies gossip, whereas spill the beans can be any secret.
Yes, the passive voice works. The beans were spilled before the party even started.
관련 표현
Let the cat out of the bag
Spill the tea
Give the game away
Blab
Blow the whistle
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