wash your dirty linen in public
wash your dirty linen in public
discuss or argue about your personal affairs in public
This expression dates from the early 19th century in English.
A similar French expression about linge sale is attributed to Napoleon.
RELATED IDIOMS :
the dirty end of the stick
the difficult or unpleasant part of a task or situation – informal
2000 - Sunday Times : Johannesburg - I still feel a bit sorry for Hugh, he always seems to get the dirty end of the stick.
dirty work at the crossroads
illicit or underhand dealing – humorous
This expression is recorded from the early 20th century and may reflect the fact that crossroads, the traditional burial site for people who had committed suicide, were j once viewed as sinister places.
1914 - P. G. Wodehouse - The Man Upstairs – A conviction began to steal over him that some game was afoot which he did not understand, that - in a word - there was dirty work at the crossroads.
do the dirty on someone
cheat or betray someone - British informal
get your hands dirty = get dirty your hands
do manual, menial or other hard work
become directly involved in dishonest or dishonorable activity – informal
1998 - Spectator - Unlike its sister churches in the West, the Catholic Church in the Philippines is not afraid to get its hands dirty.
play dirty
act in a dishonest or unfair way - Informal
talk dirty
speak about sex in a way considered to be coarse or obscene – informal
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