let the cat out of the bag

English
WOTD – 6 June 2009

Etymology

(Mid-1700s) The inverse of the idiom pig in a poke. If a dishonest merchant tries to sell a cat as a pig and the cat comes out or is taken out of the bag, the merchant's secret is disclosed.[1][2]

Pronunciation
  • Audio (AU)(file)

Verb

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  1. (idiomatic) To disclose a secret; to let a secret be known, often inadvertently.
    It was going to be a surprise party until someone let the cat out of the bag.
    • 1849, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], Shirley. A Tale. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC:
      He proved himself as decent, decorous, and conscientious as Peter was rampant, boisterous, and — This last epithet I choose to suppress, because it would let the cat out of the bag.

Synonyms

Translations

See also

References
  1. “The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms”, in (please provide the title of the work)‎, accessed 21 November 2010, archived from the original on 2011-03-18
  2. Gary Martin (1997–), “Let the cat out of the bag”, in The Phrase Finder.
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