To speak English confidently, you need more than grammar—you need idioms that native speakers actually use. Idioms make your English sound natural, fluent, and expressive, especially in daily conversations.
In Day 5 of our 100 Idioms & Phrases Series, we’ll learn a very popular idiom: “Spill the beans.”
This post covers English & Hindi meaning, real-life examples, sentence patterns, common mistakes, and when NOT to use it, making it perfect for spoken English learners and blog readers.
Idiom
Spill the beans
English Meaning
To reveal a secret, often accidentally or earlier than planned.
Hindi Meaning
राज़ खोल देना,
कोई गुप्त बात बता देना (अक्सर गलती से या जल्दी)।
🔹 Why This Idiom Is Important
Instead of saying “tell a secret” again and again, this idiom helps you:
- Sound more natural
- Speak like native speakers
- Express situations quickly and clearly
That’s why it’s commonly used in spoken English, movies, and casual writing.
🔹 Real-Life Examples (Correct Usage)
✅ Example 1: Friends & Secrets
English:
Please don’t spill the beans about the surprise party.
Hindi:
कृपया सरप्राइज़ पार्टी का राज़ मत खोलना।
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✅ Example 2: Family Situation
English:
He spilled the beans about the wedding plan.
Hindi:
उसने शादी की योजना का राज़ बता दिया।
✅ Example 3: Workplace
English:
Who spilled the beans about the new project?
Hindi:
नए प्रोजेक्ट के बारे में राज़ किसने खोल दिया?
✅ Example 4: Natural Spoken English
English:
Come on, spill the beans! What happened?
Hindi:
चलो, बता ही दो! क्या हुआ?
🔹 Common Sentence Structures
- Don’t spill the beans.
- He spilled the beans.
- Who spilled the beans about it?
- 👉 Mostly used with past tense because secrets are often revealed accidentally.
❌ When NOT to Use This Idiom (Very Important)
❌ 1. In Serious or Legal Situations
Wrong:
The witness spilled the beans in court.
👉 In legal or official contexts, use formal language, not idioms.
❌ 2. For Information That Is Not a Secret
Wrong:
He spilled the beans about today’s weather.
👉 Weather or common facts are not secrets.
❌ 3. In Formal Writing or Exams
Wrong:
The manager spilled the beans regarding company policy.
Correct (Formal):
The manager disclosed / revealed the company policy.
🔹 Better Alternatives (Formal English)
- Reveal
- Disclose
- Divulge
- Make public
🔹 Easy Memory Trick 🧠
👉 Beans = secrets
👉 Spill = fall out suddenly
So,
Spill the beans = secrets come out suddenly
🔹 Practice for Readers
Fill in the blank:
She accidentally __________ about the surprise gift.
✅ Answer: spilled the beans
Final Tip
Use “spill the beans” only in informal and conversational English when talking about secrets. Used correctly, it makes your English sound confident and natural.
👉 Next in Series (Day 6):
Idiom No. 6 – Hit the Nail on the Head
