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Glite Dictionary
to know where the bodies are buried

to know where the bodies are buried

3 9.9
To have secret information about hidden bad things in a group
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : saber dónde están los secretos
  • Because of his experience, he knows where the bodies are buried in this company's management issues.

Examples

  • They also know "where the bodies are buried" and how to use this to their advantage.

    Academic text (2012)

  • He knows where the bodies are buried.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • This stinks to high heaven, and $20 says Zakheim knows where the bodies are buried.

    Blog text (29)

  • He has been close enough to know where the bodies are buried, but has avoided personal burial in the stultifying conventional ideas dominating Indian affairs.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • As the long-time employee, she really knows where the bodies are buried in the organization.

  • After years working with the team, he knows where the bodies are buried regarding their internal conflicts.

Antonyms

ignorance
316 3.9

Not knowing about something or how it works

uninformed
42 3.7

Not knowing about a subject or situation

How Informed

to know where the bodies are buried
  • Informal
3 9.9
to know what is what
  • Informal
1 6.4

Surface Forms

know where the bodies are buried infinitive
knowing where the bodies are buried present participle
knows where the bodies are buried third person singular
knew where the bodies are buried past
known where the bodies are buried past participle

Morphology

know + where + the + body + be + bury

The literal words 'bodies' and 'buried' create a clear image of hidden or secret things, so a learner who knows the constituents may infer this expression refers to concealed wrongdoing or secrets. However, the conventionalized extension to 'insider knowledge about an organization' is a culturally specific, metaphorical use that is not fully predictable from the parts, making the phrase only partially transparent.

Etymology

Know where the bodies are buried comes from the literal image of someone who knows the secret places where bodies were buried. Because that person would know dangerous or shameful facts others do not, the phrase now means 'to have secret or insider knowledge' about a group or situation.