skeleton in the closet
Anglais[modifier le wikicode]
Étymologie[modifier le wikicode]
Locution nominale [modifier le wikicode]
| Singulier | Pluriel |
|---|---|
| skeleton in the closet \Prononciation ?\ |
skeletons in the closet \Prononciation ?\ |
skeleton in the closet
- (Royaume-Uni) (États-Unis) Cadavre dans le placard.
- In these, as in many other highly important questions, men seem afraid of enquiring after truth; cautions on cautions are multiplied, to conceal the skeleton in the closet or to prevent its escape. — (Joseph Adams, A Philosophical Treatise on the Hereditary Peculiarities of the Human Race: : with Notes illustrative of the subject, particularly in Gout, Scrofula and Madness. Londres, 1815. Emploi rapporté par le billet « Skeleton in the closet », sur le site World Wide Words.)
- It is from these that we shall arrive at some particulars regarding the Newcome family, which will show us that they have a skeleton or two in their closets, as well as their neighbours. — (William Makepeace Thackeray, The Newcomes: Memoirs of a Most Respectable Family. Londres, 1855. Emploi rapporté rapporté par le billet « Skeleton in the closet », sur le site World Wide Words.)
Notes[modifier le wikicode]
L’emploi initial de la locution serait britannique, avant d'être américain. La variante skeleton in the cupboard serait, selon le site World Wide Words, apparue à partir de 1858.
Synonymes[modifier le wikicode]
- (Royaume-Uni) skeleton in the cupboard
Prononciation[modifier le wikicode]
- (Australie) : écouter « skeleton in the closet [Prononciation ?] »