dirty secret
Closeted damaging truth
A dirty secret is something shameful or embarrassing that someone conceals—often successfully—from others.
The secret need not involve actual dirt or filth; dirty here means morally compromising or potentially damaging if revealed.
The company's dirty secret was how it treated its overseas workers.
The phrase often appears as dirty little secret, emphasizing that what's hidden may seem minor but carries real weight.
- hiddenKept out of sight
- skeleton in the closetShameful hidden past
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- guilty conscienceSelf-blame for wrongdoing
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
confession · tell all · whisper · buried · swept under the rug · dark past · skeleton · closet · guilt · hush · hush money · taboo · affair · lie · cover-up · behind closed doors · blackmail · expose
- secrecyconfidential, classified, hidden, hiding, concealment
- underwearunderwear, briefs, boxers, underpants, panties
dirty secretpublic knowledge
Facts anyone can access
open secret · common knowledge · headline news · full disclosure · open book
dirty secretbadge of honor
Source of earned pride
point of pride · claim to fame · noble deed · redeeming quality · crowning glory
dirty secretfull transparency
nothing to hide · open book · clean conscience · cards on the table · clear conscience
dirty, dirt, dirtier, dirtiest, dirtily, dirtiness, secret, secrets, secrecy