let the cat out of the bag
To disclose a secret; to let a secret be known, often inadvertentlyTo disclose a secret; to let a secret be known, often inadvertently.
Meaning
1 senses(idiomatic)To disclose a secret; to let a secret be known, often inadvertently.
It was going to be a surprise party until someone let the cat out of the bag.
die Katze aus dem Sack lassen
вы́нести сор из избыvýnesti sor iz izby
- divulge confidential information or secrets
Examples
28 sentencesLet me carry your bag.
Дозвольте мені понести вашу сумку. — deniko
ruДавай я понесу твою сумку. — marafon
Let me take your bag, Tom.
ruДавай я возьму твою сумку, Том. — odexed
Please let me carry your bag.
Tom let the cat out of the bag.
ruТом проболтался. — sharptoothed
deTom hat die Katze aus dem Sack gelassen. — qwertz
Unfortunately, Tom let the cat out of the bag.
ruК сожалению, Том проболтался. — marafon
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
First use appears c. 1753 or 1770. The inverse of the idiom pig in a poke. If a dishonestFirst use appears c. 1753 or 1770. The inverse of the idiom pig in a poke. If a dishonest merchant tries to sell a cat as a pig and the cat comes out or is taken out of the bag, the merchant's secret is disclosed.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
lets the cat out of the bag, letting the cat out of the bag, let the cat out of the bag, let the cat out of the bag| Base form | let the cat out of the bag · to let the cat out of the bag |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | lets the cat out of the bag |
| Present participle | letting the cat out of the bag |
| Past simple | let the cat out of the bag |
| Past participle | let the cat out of the bag |
irregular · Lesson
Present simpleLesson
| I, you, we, they | let the cat out of the bag |
| he, she, it | lets the cat out of the bag |
Past simpleLesson
| all persons | let the cat out of the bag |
Present perfectLesson
| I, you, we, they | have let the cat out of the bag |
| he, she, it | has let the cat out of the bag |
Future simple (will)Lesson
| all persons | will let the cat out of the bag |
Synonyms
10 synonymsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, irregular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle
See also
neighbours in the dictionaryDictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.