What does ‘spill the beans’ mean?
To “spill the beans” means to reveal a secret or confidential information. The origin is uncertain and often traced doubtfully to ancient Greek voting with beans; Brewer's 1898 does not record the modern American idiom, which spread in the early 20th century.
Origin
- The origin is uncertain and often traced doubtfully to ancient Greek voting with beans; Brewer's 1898 does not record the modern American idiom, which spread in the early 20th century.
How to use it
- Very common in casual English about disclosures.
- Example: Come on — spill the beans about the surprise.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.