let the cat out of the bag

Word by word

let · the · cat · out · of · the · bag

Idiomatic sense

To let a secret escape, usually by accident or too early. The cat was contained. Now it is in the room, and everyone can see it. Surprises, plans, news that was being held until Friday.

Informal. Close to spill the beans. The cat phrase dwells a little more on the container failing. The beans dwell a little more on the person who talked.

Examples

1. Don't let the cat out of the bag until Friday.

   Don't give it away before Friday.

2. The title lets the cat out of the bag.

   The title gives the ending away.

Equivalents

Marks say how far the other phrase travels with this one. How to read them.

1. exact

   German

   die Katze aus dem Sack lassen

   The same cat, the same sack, the same accident. One of the few pairs in this book where the picture crosses the language almost whole.

2. near

   English

   spill the beans

   Same secret, same informal register. See that entry for the small difference in emphasis.

3. near

   French

   vendre la mèche

   To give the game away. Same job, no animal.

4. near

   Spanish

   descubrir el pastel

   To uncover the cake, that is, to expose the hidden thing. Same reveal.

5. near

   Chinese

   露馅

   The filling shows through the dumpling. The secret is visible. Same accident of exposure, a kitchen picture.

Notes

A market story, in which a pig was sold in a bag and a cat was substituted, is often told as the origin, sometimes in connection with pig in a poke. It is not adopted here.

The short form let the cat out is understandable in context and is worse to use as the headword, because the bag is part of the picture. Search still finds the short form.

Sources

• Standard informal idiom. Wording is original. The origin is left open.

Mentioned from

• near spill the beans English