Have You Ever 'Spilled the Beans?'
Beans are a popular food in many countries. Rich in fiber, protein and nutrients, beans are a healthy, plant-based food.
So, spilling the beans at home or in a store would not be good.
"Spilling the beans" when you communicate with others is also a bad thing.
When you spill the beans, you share or make secret information public. You don't mean to do it. The secrets just spill out of you.
Several websites say this expression comes from one way ancient Greeks voted.
Back then, in some communities, people voted by dropping a white or black bean into a clay urn. If the container fell on its side or broke, the beans would spill out. And this would show everyone the results of the secret vote before all the beans were counted.
Americans use the verb "spill" in much the same way. Sometimes we simply say, "Spill it!" When you tell others to "spill it," you are asking them to tell you all the details about something immediately.
This term is very casual and could even sound offensive depending on the situation and expression in your voice. So it's best to use it with close friends, family or when you are joking around.
Blab is another word meaning "to spill the beans." Blab is not the nicest word, however. A man who blabbers keeps talking and talking, as if he can't keep his mouth closed. A blabber mouth is someone who can’t keep their mouth shut.
