Lesson 6: To Let the Cat Out of the Bag

 

 

Meaning:  To tell a secret, accidentally or on purpose, that you were not supposed to tell.

 

examples.        He let the cat out of the bag, and now everyone knows they are going to have a baby.

                        It's a secret.  So, don't let the cat out of the bag.

                        They are such big gossips that they can't help letting the cat out of the bag.

 

Usefulness Factor  5/10

 

You will probably hear this idiom on sitcoms when someone tells someone to keep a secret, or when someone is angry because their secret got out.  Often used in sitcoms when someone is dating someone secretly, or when someone is pregnant.

 

examples          Don't let the cat out of the bag!

                        They know because you let the cat out of the bag.

 

Finding a moment to use this one yourself could be challenging.  You have to tell someone a secret, and tell them not to tell.  If your friends can't keep a secret, maybe you just shouldn't tell them.

 

Useful Collocations

Keep a secret:  Don't tell you secret.

Tell a secret:    Just like the idiom, you revealed a secret.

Quiz ( choose the correct verb)

 

	Tell	Say
_____the truth.
_____ a lie.
_____ a story.
_____goodbye.
Can you _____me the time?
What did he ______?
What did she _____ you?
He always ____that.

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