Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
dirty-linen
noun
/ˈdɜrti ˈlɪnən/
Definition
Dirty linen refers to soiled or unclean garments, particularly those used in bed, such as sheets and pillowcases.
Examples
- After the guests left, the hotel staff had to deal with a pile of dirty linen.
- It’s not polite to air your dirty linen in public.
Meaning
The term can denote any kind of laundry that is not clean, but it is often used metaphorically to describe private matters that should not be made public.
Synonyms
- soiled laundry
- unclean linens
- filthy clothes
