Now we’ve got to flush out the skeleton
Posted: September 12, 2012 Filed under: ACTION, BODY PARTS | Tags: blended idioms, expressions, flesh out p, flush out, malaphors, mixed idioms, words 5 CommentsHeard at a meeting 25 years ago, it still plays well today. Actually, this is a fairly common malaphor, as flush is often used for flesh and vice versa. This is a mix-up of “flesh something out” (make something bigger or more detailed) and “flush something out” (to make something more obvious or force something out of hiding).
Malaphors 
An author told me, “I’ll work with my editor to flush out the idea.” Swoosh!
It’d take quite a sewage system to flush a skeleton!!
Was this a quote from “the Master?”
No, but my notes indicate I heard it in OHA.
…plus a ref to skeletons in the closet?
could be, but I will be posting a malaphor containing this idiom that I think you will find quite amusing. Stay tuned!