What does ‘let the cat out of the bag’ mean?
To “let the cat out of the bag” means to reveal a secret, often by accident. Brewer's records the popular story that dishonest market sellers substituted a cat for a suckling pig in a tied sack; opening the bag exposed the swap. The tale is charming but not securely documented.
Origin
- Brewer's records the popular story that dishonest market sellers substituted a cat for a suckling pig in a tied sack; opening the bag exposed the swap. The tale is charming but not securely documented.
How to use it
- Used for accidental disclosures, especially of surprises or news meant to stay quiet.
- Example: He let the cat out of the bag about the promotion before HR announced it.
Source:
Last verified: 2026-07-18
- Definitions and origins are drawn from public-domain reference works, primarily Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898), with modern usage notes clearly marked.