What does “Wash your dirty linen at home.” mean?
"Wash your dirty linen at home" means that personal or private matters should be dealt with privately and not shared with others.
What context can I use the in?
Example
I don't want to hear about your family drama. Wash your dirty linen at home. Keep your personal matters to yourself.
Example
Why are you airing your dirty laundry in public? Wash your dirty linen at home. It's not appropriate to discuss personal issues in front of others.
Example
I understand that you're upset, but wash your dirty linen at home. It's not necessary to involve everyone else in your personal problems
Is “Wash your dirty linen at home.” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?
“Wash your dirty linen at home.” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.
How would I use “Wash your dirty linen at home.” effectively in context?
You can use "Wash your dirty linen at home" to advise someone to keep their personal matters private and not share them with others. It emphasizes the importance of dealing with personal issues within the confines of one's own home. For example, if a friend starts discussing their relationship problems in public, you might say, 'Hey, let's "wash our dirty linen at home" and talk about this later.'
- 1Family Matters
When her parents started arguing at a family gathering, she reminded them to wash their dirty linen at home and not involve everyone else.
- 2Workplace
During a team meeting, a colleague began complaining about their workload. The manager interrupted and said, 'Wash your dirty linen at home, let's focus on the task at hand.'
- 3Friendship
When a friend started gossiping about another mutual friend, she told them, 'Wash your dirty linen at home. It's not fair to talk about others behind their back.'
Similar phrases to “Wash your dirty linen at home.”:
Good things to know:
Where does the phrase “Wash your dirty linen at home.” come from?
The origin of the phrase "Wash your dirty linen at home" is unknown.
Is “Wash your dirty linen at home.” common in everyday conversation?
"Wash your dirty linen at home" is not a very common phrase in everyday conversation. It is more often used in formal or professional settings to remind people to maintain privacy and professionalism.
What tone does “Wash your dirty linen at home.” have?
"Wash your dirty linen at home" conveys a tone of caution and discretion. It is used to remind someone to be mindful of what they share with others and to keep personal matters private.
Can “Wash your dirty linen at home.” be used in informal and formal settings?
"Wash your dirty linen at home" is a relatively formal phrase. It is commonly used in professional or formal settings to emphasize the importance of maintaining privacy and professionalism. However, it can also be used in informal conversations among friends or family members who value discretion.
Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?
It is commonly used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'I don't want to hear about your family drama. "Wash your dirty linen at home".' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the phrase even if used alone, like saying '"Wash your dirty linen at home"' to imply the need for privacy.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- keep it hush-hush
- maintain confidentiality
- respect privacy
- keep things to oneself
- be discreet
Antonyms
- share openly
- be transparent
- discuss publicly
- reveal secrets
- expose personal matters
