| Singulier | Pluriel |
|---|---|
| skeleton in the closet \Prononciation ?\ |
skeletons in the closet \Prononciation ?\ |
skeleton in the closet
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.)
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.