Lucky is the man who has no "skeleton in his closet."
Lucky
is
the
man
who
has
no
``
skeleton
in
his
closet
.
''
When a man has done something in his life that he is ashamed of, that he wants to hide, he is said to have a "skeleton in his closet."
When
a
man
has
done
something
in
his
life
that
he
is
ashamed
of
,
that
he
wants
to
hide
,
he
is
said
to
have
a
``
skeleton
in
his
closet
.
''
Some people may have more than one skeleton.
Some
people
may
have
more
than
one
skeleton
.
As we have noted many times, it is hard to find out how these expressions begin.
As
we
have
noted
many
times
,
it
is
hard
to
find
out
how
these
expressions
begin
.
Sometimes, we get some hard facts.
Sometimes
,
we
get
some
hard
facts
.
But more often we have to depend on guesswork.
But
more
often
we
have
to
depend
on
guesswork
.
And that is true of this phrase, which came from England.
And
that
is
true
of
this
phrase
,
which
came
from
England
.
Before 1832, English law did not permit a doctor to cut open a dead human body for scientific examination, unless it was the corpse of an executed criminal.
Before
1832
,
English
law
did
not
permit
a
doctor
to
cut
open
a
dead
human
body
for
scientific
examination
,
unless
it
was
the
corpse
of
an
executed
criminal
.
But when it became legal, more and more doctors demanded skeletons for a more scientific study of medicine.
But
when
it
became
legal
,
more
and
more
doctors
demanded
skeletons
for
a
more
scientific
study
of
medicine
.
It was helping in the advance of modern medicine.
It
was
helping
in
the
advance
of
modern
medicine
.
The demand had become so strong that men began to rob tombs and sell skeletons to doctors at high prices.
The
demand
had
become
so
strong
that
men
began
to
rob
tombs
and
sell
skeletons
to
doctors
at
high
prices
.
We are told that a doctor would usually buy just one skeleton for scientific study.
We
are
told
that
a
doctor
would
usually
buy
just
one
skeleton
for
scientific
study
.
It became very important in his work.
It
became
very
important
in
his
work
.
But he had to keep it hidden because most people objected to keeping such a thing.
But
he
had
to
keep
it
hidden
because
most
people
objected
to
keeping
such
a
thing
.
As a rule, the doctor keep his skeleton in some dark corner where it could not be seen, or hide it in a closet.
As
a
rule
,
the
doctor
keep
his
skeleton
in
some
dark
corner
where
it
could
not
be
seen
,
or
hide
it
in
a
closet
.
After a time, people began to suspect every doctor of hiding a skeleton in the closet.
After
a
time
,
people
began
to
suspect
every
doctor
of
hiding
a
skeleton
in
the
closet
.
From this suspicion, the phrase "a skeleton in the closet" took on a broader, more general meaning: to describe anything that a man wanted to keep others from discovering.
From
this
suspicion
,
the
phrase
``
a
skeleton
in
the
closet
''
took
on
a
broader
,
more
general
meaning
:
to
describe
anything
that
a
man
wanted
to
keep
others
from
discovering
.
It could be proof of a criminal act, or something much less serious.
It
could
be
proof
of
a
criminal
act
,
or
something
much
less
serious
.
Well, that is one theory.
Well
,
that
is
one
theory
.
One writer, however, believes that the phrase might have come from something that really happened.
One
writer
,
however
,
believes
that
the
phrase
might
have
come
from
something
that
really
happened
.
It is his guess that a hidden closet in some old English country home may have turned up a real skeleton, clear proof of some old family shame or crime.
It
is
his
guess
that
a
hidden
closet
in
some
old
English
country
home
may
have
turned
up
a
real
skeleton
,
clear
proof
of
some
old
family
shame
or
crime
.
Well, one man's guess is as good as another.
Well
,
one
man
's
guess
is
as
good
as
another
.
But this sounds like a story by the great French novelist, Balzac.
But
this
sounds
like
a
story
by
the
great
French
novelist
,
Balzac
.
Balzac tells us of a man who suspected his wife of having a lover.
Balzac
tells
us
of
a
man
who
suspected
his
wife
of
having
a
lover
.
The husband comes home by surprise.
The
husband
comes
home
by
surprise
.
But she hears him and quickly hides her lover in the closet of her bedroom.
But
she
hears
him
and
quickly
hides
her
lover
in
the
closet
of
her
bedroom
.
He enters her room and asks her if she is hiding her lover.
He
enters
her
room
and
asks
her
if
she
is
hiding
her
lover
.
He says he will not open the door to the closet if she promises him there is no one there; He will believe her.
He
says
he
will
not
open
the
door
to
the
closet
if
she
promises
him
there
is
no
one
there
;
He
will
believe
her
.
She answers firmly that she is not hiding anyone in the closet.
She
answers
firmly
that
she
is
not
hiding
anyone
in
the
closet
.
The husband then begins to build a solid brick wall against the closet.
The
husband
then
begins
to
build
a
solid
brick
wall
against
the
closet
.
His wife watches, knowing that her lover will never come out alive.
His
wife
watches
,
knowing
that
her
lover
will
never
come
out
alive
.
But she will not change her story and admit her guilt.
But
she
will
not
change
her
story
and
admit
her
guilt
.
Lucky is the man who has no "skeleton in his closet." When a man has done something in his life that he is ashamed of, that he wants to hide, he is said to have a "skeleton in his closet." Some people may have more than one skeleton.  As we have noted many times, it is hard to find out how these expressions begin. Sometimes, we get some hard facts. But more often we have to depend on guesswork. And that is true of this phrase, which came from England.  Before 1832, English law did not permit a doctor to cut open a dead human body for scientific examination, unless it was the corpse of an executed criminal.  But when it became legal, more and more doctors demanded skeletons for a more scientific study of medicine. It was helping in the advance of modern medicine. The demand had become so strong that men began to rob tombs and sell skeletons to doctors at high prices.  We are told that a doctor would usually buy just one skeleton for scientific study. It became very important in his work. But he had to keep it hidden because most people objected to keeping such a thing. As a rule, the doctor keep his skeleton in some dark corner where it could not be seen, or hide it in a closet.  After a time, people began to suspect every doctor of hiding a skeleton in the closet. From this suspicion, the phrase "a skeleton in the closet" took on a broader, more general meaning: to describe anything that a man wanted to keep others from discovering. It could be proof of a criminal act, or something much less serious. Well, that is one theory.  One writer, however, believes that the phrase might have come from something that really happened. It is his guess that a hidden closet in some old English country home may have turned up a real skeleton, clear proof of some old family shame or crime. Well, one man's guess is as good as another. But this sounds like a story by the great French novelist, Balzac.  Balzac tells us of a man who suspected his wife of having a lover. The husband comes home by surprise. But she hears him and quickly hides her lover in the closet of her bedroom. He enters her room and asks her if she is hiding her lover. He says he will not open the door to the closet if she promises him there is no one there; He will believe her. She answers firmly that she is not hiding anyone in the closet.  The husband then begins to build a solid brick wall against the closet. His wife watches, knowing that her lover will never come out alive. But she will not change her story and admit her guilt.