family skeleton

noun

1. a closely guarded family secret

Example Sentences

And sure, a memoir need not be a storage container for every family skeleton, but relevant narration — heartbreaking or otherwise — is, I’d argue, a big chunk of a writer’s basic job description.

From New York Times

Not even a metatarsal of any family skeleton interested Bull Meecham if the family was not his own.

From Literature

George Bernard Shaw wrote: "If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance."

From The Guardian

Hugh John proceeded cautiously to unwrap his family skeleton.

From Project Gutenberg

Maud and Louise, regarding him and his business in the light of a family skeleton, ignored him as completely as a family skeleton can be ignored when it is of the kind that will not stay in its allotted closet.

From Project Gutenberg