Question

Spill the beans To spill the beans means to give someone information, particularly information that is meant to be secret. This expression may come from the time when the Ancient Greeks used to vote at elections by putting beans into a jar. The number of “yes” and “no” votes was kept secret until the beans were “spilled” out of the jar. “I’ve hidden his present in the shed. You mustn’t spill the beans and tell him where it is!”

Accepted Answer

What do you mean? Why does it mean this? Example

Metaphor	Spill the beans
Question Meaning	What do you mean?
Meaning	To spill the beans means to give someone information, particularly information that is meant to be secret.
Question Explanation	Why does it mean this?
Explanation	This expression may come from the time when the Ancient Greeks used to vote at elections by putting beans into a jar. The number of “yes” and “no” votes was kept secret until the beans were “spilled” out of the jar.
Question Example	Example
Example	“I’ve hidden his present in the shed. You mustn’t spill the beans and tell him where it is!”

Beans Spill Jar Means Give Information Meant Secret