wash one's dirty linen in public
Air personal grievances publicly
To wash one's dirty linen in public is to discuss private matters, especially embarrassing or shameful ones, where others can hear.
The phrase suggests that personal troubles, like soiled clothing, should be cleaned discreetly at home rather than aired for strangers: I wish they wouldn't wash their dirty linen in public—nobody needs to hear about their marriage problems.
Sometimes appears as *air* one's dirty linen.
- spill the beansReveal confidential information
- let the cat out of the bagReveal a secret
- spill the teaShare scandalous information
- loose lipsHabit of revealing secrets
- confidentialityQuality of protecting secrets
gossip · kiss and tell · tell all · secrecy · scandal · overshare · restraint · decorum · propriety · prudence · discretion · tact · too much information · circumspection · betrayal · make a scene · modesty · confrontation
wash one's dirty linen in publickeep one's own counsel
Remain privately undisclosed
keep it in the family · keep mum · hush up · hold one's tongue · button one's lip
wash one's dirty linen in publickeep up appearances
Pretend all is well
save face · hold one's tongue · bite one's tongue · zip one's lip · say nothing
wash, washes, washed, washing, washer, washable, one, ones, dirty