| Idiom | Let the Cat Out of the Bag |
|---|---|
| Example | Carol's little brother let the cat out of the bag about her surprise party. |
| Meaning | to give away a secret |
| Origin | Centuries ago in England you might have bought a costly pig at a farmer's market. But if the merchant was dishonest and put a worthless cat into the bag instead of a piglet, you might not find out until you got home and let the cat out of the bag. Related expressions are "buy a pig in a poke" (see page 24) and "spill the beans" (see page 179) . |
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