Let the cat out of the bag

Definitions

• reveal a secret
  To accidentally or intentionally disclose information that was supposed to be kept confidential or secret

• spoil a surprise
  To reveal information about a surprise or planned event, thus ruining the element of surprise

Examples of Let the cat out of the bag

• Sarah accidentally revealed the surprise party plan to her friend Emily, letting the cat out of the bag.

  This idiom is used when someone unintentionally reveals a secret or surprise, causing it to be spoiled. The "cat" in this case represents the secret or surprise, and "letting the cat out of the bag" means revealing it.

• The company's new product launch was supposed to be a secret, but a careless employee accidentally emailed the press release to a competitor, letting the cat out of the bag.

  This example shows how the idiom can be used in a business context, where a company's plans or secrets can be compared to a cat in a bag. Letting the cat out of the bag means revealing the plans or secrets, which can have negative consequences.

• The teacher's stern expression let the cat out of the bag, revealing that the students had been cheating on the exam.

  In this example, the idiom is used to describe how a person's actions or expressions can give away a secret or surprise. The teacher's stern expression let the cat out of the bag, revealing that the students had been cheating on the exam.

• The politician's slip of the tongue let the cat out of the bag, revealing his true feelings about a sensitive issue.

  This example shows how the idiom can be used in a political context, where a politician's words or actions can reveal their true feelings or intentions. The politician's slip of the tongue let the cat out of the bag, revealing his true feelings about a sensitive issue.

• The thief's boastful behavior let the cat out of the bag, revealing his involvement in the crime.

  In this example, the idiom is used to describe how a person's behavior or actions can reveal their involvement in a crime or wrongdoing. The thief's boastful behavior let the cat out of the bag, revealing his involvement in the crime.

Conclusion

The idiom "let the cat out of the bag" is used to describe the act of revealing or disclosing information that was meant to be kept secret. It can refer to accidentally or intentionally sharing confidential information, as well as spoiling a surprise or planned event.

In both cases, the intention is to warn against revealing information that is meant to be kept hidden or surprising. It is often used as a warning to be cautious and to think before speaking, to avoid letting the cat out of the bag.

Origin of "Let the cat out of the bag"

The origin of this idiom is not entirely clear, but there are a few theories. One theory suggests that the phrase originated from the medieval marketplaces, where sellers would often use bags or sacks to hold their goods. Sometimes, dishonest sellers would replace a valuable item with a less valuable one, such as a cat, in order to deceive buyers. If the buyer opened the bag before purchasing, the "cat would be out of the bag" and the trick would be revealed.

Another theory suggests that the phrase may have originated from old English fables, where a cat would be substituted for a hare in a bag, and once let out, would reveal the trickery of the person holding the bag.

Regardless of its origin, the idiom has been in use since the 16th century and has become a common phrase in the English language. It is often used in everyday conversations and has been adapted into other languages as well.