tipped the beans

[Ferdie11]

Hi,

What does the phrase "tipped the beans" mean in the sentence below?

I almost tipped the beans but caught myself in time.

Many thanks.

[Barb_D]

The US expression is "spilled the beans" but I assume it's the same meaning.

It means to reveal something that is supposed to be a secret.

If you know your friend is planning a surprise party for his girlfriend's birthday and you say to him, in front of her, "Have you hired a caterer for the party yet?" you have spilled the beans.

[BobK]

Same here . I've never heard of tipping the beans. If I heard it, I would think it changed the accidental nature of spilling; so of a particularly undiplomatic person I suppose it might be said 'He didn't just spill the beans, he tipped then all over the floor, trod them into the carpet, and then walked bits of bean all over the house.' But that's not an idiomatic usage.

b