To Let the Cat Out of the Bag – Meaning, Origin, and Usage
To Let the Cat Out of the Bag – Meaning, Origin, and Usage
Blog Article
In English, idioms are expressions that don't always make sense literally, but they carry strong cultural meanings. One such common idiom is “to let the cat out of the bag.” It’s colorful, catchy, and often used in everyday conversation.
???? What Does “To Let the Cat Out of the Bag” Mean?
The idiom “to let the cat out of the bag” means:
To reveal a secret, often by accident.
It usually refers to sharing information that was supposed to be kept confidential.
???? Example Situations
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Surprise Party:
“John accidentally let the cat out of the bag about Mary’s surprise party. Now she knows everything!” -
Job Promotion:
“The manager let the cat out of the bag during the meeting and mentioned the upcoming promotion before the official announcement.” -
Personal Secrets:
“I trusted you with my secret. Why did you let the cat out of the bag?”
???? Origin of the Idiom
The phrase is believed to date back to medieval markets. Unscrupulous sellers would sometimes sell a pig in a bag ("pig in a poke"), but when the buyer opened the bag, a cat would jump out — revealing the scam. Thus, "letting the cat out of the bag" came to mean revealing the truth — often unexpectedly or embarrassingly.
✅ When to Use It
Use this idiom when:
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Someone accidentally shares confidential or surprising news
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A planned surprise is revealed
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A secret becomes public knowledge
???? Common Mistakes
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Don’t use it literally — it has nothing to do with real cats!
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It's often used in past tense: "He let the cat out of the bag."
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It implies the secret was not supposed to be shared yet
???? Final Thoughts
The idiom “to let the cat out of the bag” is a fun and vivid way to describe revealing a secret. Whether you're speaking casually or writing creatively, using idioms like this adds color and expression to your English.
Next time you slip up and say something you weren’t supposed to, you’ll know: you’ve let the cat out of the bag!
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