A skeleton in the cupboard/closet noun phrase
An embarrassing or unpleasant secret about your past that you don't want anyone to know
It seems that most people have their own skeletons in the cupboard.
The press is really good at uncovering skeletons in the celebrities’ closets.
I know that friends should share with each other but there're some skeletons in the cupboard better to keep for myself.
My first failed love confession is my skeleton in the cupboard.
Used to tell someone to keep secret what you're about to say
To be secretly working together
Kept in secret
If you fall for someone's trick the first time then they are at fault.
Are you going to mess with me again? Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.