Region: US / UK | Usage example: Don't tell Jenna about the surprise party—she's been known to spill the beans.

Spill the beans

Meaning

Reveal a secret or disclose information prematurely.

Common in informal speech; often used to playfully scold someone for letting news slip.

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Possibly from an ancient Greek voting method using beans, where spilling them could accidentally reveal results.

Linked to scuttlebutt and tavern storytelling in the 20th century, but citations trace it back to 19th-century America.