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Consider a scenario where a person encounters something or hears something (experiences something) and he realises that something should be kept as a secret based on ethics or by the nature of something itself. But something is so irresistible to be kept as a secret and eventually the person loses his patience and blurts it out to people.

I would like to know if I can denote such an event by a phrase or a word.

Ex:

"Mr. X encountered a/an _______ event".

The blank should be filled with a phrase or a term that denotes, an event that should have been kept as a secret, but due to irresistible circumstances, it came into light

Also, the event is not irresistible for a specific person. It is associated with the nature of the event.

I am not able to find an exact scenario to be given as an example. But this is what that person would think about the event when he encounters: Ah! This should be kept as a secret. But how can I? I cannot restrict myself from telling this, and he tells it out.

How would one describe such events as?

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  • I think you do not mean so irresistible but too irresistible. Commented Sep 2, 2016 at 12:33
  • Yes. You are right. Too irresistible. Commented Sep 2, 2016 at 12:34
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    An unkeepable secret? Irresistible gossip?
    – bib
    Commented Sep 2, 2016 at 12:38
  • @bib I didn't know that unkeepable is a valid word. Even now there is a squiggly red line beneath the word. Even if it is valid and if it is the antonym of the word keepable which means, something is worth to be kept, then wouldn't unkeepable mean not worthy? Commented Sep 2, 2016 at 12:43
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    A colloquial way of saying it, but not in one word, would be "This event has to be shared" with a heavy emphasis on "has" orally or in bold or underlined in written form.
    – P. O.
    Commented Sep 2, 2016 at 13:04

5 Answers 5

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The word is insuppressible. "Mr. X encountered an insuppressible secret."

Source: A Student Guide, Joyce: Ulysses, by Vincent Sherry of Villanova University, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 10 0521-539765; Chapter 3, Lapsarian Languages; Page 97: "...like the insuppressible secret in the Freudian slip."

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I don't know of a one-word solution, but I can suggest:

"The secret was too juicy to keep to him/herself."

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  • Can you please explain your answer? Or can you at least provide a reference? Does too juicy capture the exact situation? Commented Sep 2, 2016 at 12:38
  • I can't find a wikitionary or OED reference for "juicy secret" but if you do a quick Google for the phrase you will find some examples of how it is used. I think that "too juicy" does indeed serve your purpose - but it is the secret itself which is juicy, and not the event that happened. You might also consider the event to be "[too] gossip-worthy to be kept as a secret". Commented Sep 2, 2016 at 12:43
  • Of course, it's in the dictionary: oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/juicy you are free to incorporate it into your answer
    – Helmar
    Commented Sep 2, 2016 at 12:44
  • @Helmar I was searching for "juicy secret" which is why I didn't find the entry for "juicy gossip". Maybe "juicy gossip" is in more frequent use? Commented Sep 2, 2016 at 12:48
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    I think you can just use juicy with a link to the definition that @Helmar provided (or another if you find one you like better) and maybe a couple of the example usages that you've found. I think juicy is used with gossip and secret and "piece of gossip" and tidbit and item and so forth, which actually makes it a pretty good one-word answer to the question (if appropriately explained etc.).
    – 1006a
    Commented Sep 2, 2016 at 20:31
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The following is used in practice and is applicable to your context

  • spill the beans
  • let the cat out of the bag
  • whistle blowing
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Something happened that Mr. X couldn't keep to himself.

or

Something happened that Mr. X couldn't keep quiet about.

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I somehow stumbled upon the word Irrepressible and I guess that would be the right word for this question.

Irrepressible - M-W

Impossible to hold back, stop, or control

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