skeleton in the cupboard
A shameful secret.
‘I expect all families have some skeletons in the cupboards,’ Robina said with a smile of understanding. ‘I know I have some relatives who embarrass me, but you have done nothing t
noun
A board or table used to openly hold and display silver plate and other dishware; a sideboard; a buffet.
Cupboꝛde of plate or to ſette plate upon buffet z ma.
from the cobbarde byſyde owr dyninge table
Things displayed on a sideboard; dishware, particularly valuable plate.
But howe comme to pas, / Your cupbord that was / Is tourned to glasse, / From syluere to brasse, / From golde to pewter, / Or els to a newter, / To copper, to tyn, / To lede, or alcumyn?
A cabinet, closet, or other piece of furniture with shelves intended for storing cookware, dishware, or food; similar cabinets or closets used for storing other items.
Put the cups back into the cupboard.
Cupborde to putte meate in – dressover s, m.
Things stored in a cupboard; particularly food.
Some men they [make] love for what they can get, / And 'tis certain there's many a Lubbard; / Will sigh and will pant, seeming ready to faint, / And all for the love of the cubbard, brave boys! / And all [for the love of the Cup-board].
A closet for storing coats.
I hung the coat in the cupboard and bided my time.
verb
To collect, as into a cupboard; to hoard.
There was a time, when all the bodies members / Rebell'd againſt the Belly; thus accus'd it: / That onely like a Gulfe it did remaine / I'th midd'ſt a th'body, idle and vnactiue, / Still cubbording the Viand, neuer bearing / Like labour with the reſt, where th'other Inſtruments / Did ſee, and heare, deuiſe, inſtruct, walke, feele, / And mutually participate, did miniſter / Vnto the appetite; […]