proverb · Words worth keeping
Don’t wash your dirty linen in public.
Don’t wash your dirty linen in public.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Washing dirty linen in public uses private household work as an image for exposing intimate disputes. It expresses a preference for discretion about personal matters.
What the words are saying
The public-private contrast can concern audience, consent and confidentiality. A critical reading does not make shame a reason to conceal harm or prevent someone seeking support. Some disclosures are needed for accountability, and a claim that something is private does not alone settle whether silence is appropriate.
Everyday example
Two people consider discussing a minor disagreement privately while retaining access to help if a serious concern arises.
When to use it
Use it to discuss discretion with support and necessary disclosure protected.
What it does not mean
Privacy must not become a demand to conceal harm, silence complaints or prevent accountability.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- Contributor-provided proverb reference
Supplied reference A; unit 816; PDF page 115
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.