Spill the beans: meaning, examples and when to use it
Short answer: “Spill the beans” means to tell a secret. You say it when someone shares information that was meant to stay private: “Who spilled the beans about the trip?”
What does “Spill the beans” mean in English?
A secret is like something that should stay in a closed container. When you “spill the beans”, the secret comes out. The person may do it on purpose or not. If you want to say that it happened by mistake, “let the cat out of the bag” is closer.
Examples of “Spill the beans”
- Please don't spill the beans about the surprise gift.
A request to keep a secret. - Tom spilled the beans, and now everyone knows about the plan.
Someone told the secret. - I will not spill the beans, even if you ask me five times.
A promise to keep the secret.
When do you use “Spill the beans”?
- When someone tells a secret, a surprise or private news.
- When you ask a friend to keep something quiet.
- In speech and in casual writing.
Is “Spill the beans” formal?
“Spill the beans” is informal. It is fine with friends and in stories. In a formal text, write “reveal” or “tell”.
Common mistakes with “Spill the beans”
- The idiom is about secrets, not food. Do not say “spill the beans” when you really drop beans.
- Keep the exact words: “spill the beans”, not “drop the beans”.
- Do not confuse it with “let the cat out of the bag”. Both mean to tell a secret, but the second one is usually by mistake.
Similar expressions
- Same idea: “let the cat out of the bag”, usually by mistake. Related group: idioms for talking with people.
Questions
What does “Spill the beans” mean in English?
“Spill the beans” means to tell a secret. You say it when someone shares information that was meant to stay private: “Who spilled the beans about the trip?”
Is “Spill the beans” formal?
“Spill the beans” is informal. It is fine with friends and in stories. In a formal text, write “reveal” or “tell”.
What is the difference between “spill the beans” and “let the cat out of the bag”?
Both mean to tell a secret. “Let the cat out of the bag” usually means that you told it by mistake.
How do I ask someone to keep a secret with this idiom?
Say, “Please don't spill the beans.”
Part of the English idioms guide and of idioms for talking with people, in the 💬 Idioms tool. Đọc bằng tiếng Việt.
Written for English learners by the English for Fun team. How we write our lessons · Last updated 2026-11-05.