Meanings
- idiomaticuncountableUnflattering or embarrassing facts, or questionable activities that one wants to remain secret, but which someone else may use as blackmail.
If you don't tell me why you did it, I'll air all your dirty laundry to your boss.
1 more example
Look, we all have trouble in our lives but most of us aren't hanging our dirty laundry out there for the whole world to see.
2017, David Montgomery, Thoughts on the Abundant Life, page 337 - uncountableUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see dirty, laundry.
If you bring your dirty laundry round on Saturday, I'll wash it for you.
Synonyms: dirty washing
Synonyms & antonyms
nounUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see dirty, laundry.
More synonyms by meaning
nounpersonal matters that could be embarrassing if made public
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
Finnish likapyykki, likapyykki
- likapyykkiunflattering facts or questionable activities
- likapyykkilaundry that is unclean or soiled
- likapyykkia clothes hamper or other container used to place unclean or soiled laundry
French linge sale
- linge saleunflattering facts or questionable activities
German dreckige Wäsche, schmutzige Wäsche
- dreckige Wäscheunflattering facts or questionable activities
- schmutzige Wäscheunflattering facts or questionable activities
- Schmutzwäschelaundry that is unclean or soiled
- schmutzige Wäschelaundry that is unclean or soiled
- dreckige Wäschelaundry that is unclean or soiled
- Korb für schmutzige Wäschea clothes hamper or other container used to place unclean or soiled laundry
Hungarian szennyes, szennyes
- szennyesunflattering facts or questionable activities
- szennyeslaundry that is unclean or soiled
- szennyes ruhalaundry that is unclean or soiled
- szennyesládaa clothes hamper or other container used to place unclean or soiled laundry
- szennyestartóa clothes hamper or other container used to place unclean or soiled laundry
Polish brudy
- brudyunflattering facts or questionable activities
Russian гря́зное бельё, гря́зное бельё
- гря́зное бельё (grjáznoje belʹjó)unflattering facts or questionable activities
- гря́зное бельё (grjáznoje belʹjó)laundry that is unclean or soiled
Spanish trapitos sucios, trapos sucios
- trapitos suciosunflattering facts or questionable activities
- trapos suciosunflattering facts or questionable activities
Swedish smutsig byk, smutstvätt
- smutsig bykunflattering facts or questionable activities
- smutstvättlaundry that is unclean or soiled
- tvättkorga clothes hamper or other container used to place unclean or soiled laundry
Turkish kirli çamaşır, kirli çamaşır
- kirli çamaşırunflattering facts or questionable activities
- kirli çamaşırlaundry that is unclean or soiled
- kirli sepetia clothes hamper or other container used to place unclean or soiled laundry
Ukrainian брудна́ біли́зна, брудна́ біли́зна
- брудна́ біли́зна (brudná bilýzna)unflattering facts or questionable activities
- брудна́ біли́зна (brudná bilýzna)laundry that is unclean or soiled
Cite this entry
dirty laundry. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dirty%20laundry
“dirty laundry.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dirty%20laundry. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dirty laundry,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dirty%20laundry.
Source: dirty laundry on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.