dirty laundry

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

dirty laundry (uncountable)

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see dirty,‎ laundry.

   If you bring your dirty laundry round on Saturday, I'll wash it for you.

2. (idiomatic) Unflattering 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.

   • 2017, David Montgomery, Thoughts on the Abundant Life, page 337:

     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.

3. (metonymically) A clothes hamper or other container in which soiled laundry is placed.

   Place your dirty clothes in the dirty laundry.

• dirty washing

• dirty linen