Which phrase describes a dark secret from your past which you try to keep hidden?

Prepare for the British Culture Test, understand key cultural aspects of the UK. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for success!

This item tests knowledge of an idiom that means a hidden, often embarrassing, secret from the past. The best fit describes a dark secret you try to keep hidden, using the image of a skeleton tucked away in a cupboard to suggest something unwanted kept out of sight. In British usage this phrase is common, and you might also hear the American version “skeleton in the closet.” The other options refer to different ideas: a Spin Doctor is someone who spins information to influence public opinion; a Precedent is a previous decision used as a rule; and to fall foul of the law means to break the law. None of those convey the idea of a secret you’re hiding.