dirty linen

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English

Noun

dirty linen (uncountable)

  1. Matters of an embarrassing or unsavoury nature that one would normally wish to keep private.
    A lot of dirty linen was exposed during the inquiry.
  2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see dirty,‎ linen.
    Hotels generate a lot of dirty linen.

Usage notes

  • Also used in expressions such as wash (or air) one's dirty linen in public.

See also