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Dirty Laundry

What Does "Dirty Laundry" Mean?

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"Dirty laundry" is an English idiom. It means "personal matters or disputes that should be kept private."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "dirty laundry" used in a sentence:
  • You shouldn't air your dirty laundry in public.
  • Nobody needs to know our family's dirty laundry.
  • She had a habit of discussing their dirty laundry with friends.
meaning for dirty laundry

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Dirty Laundry" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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