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Let the cat out of the bag

Let the cat out of the bag

Meaning

Share a secret that wasn’t intended to be shared.

Examples

I thought Mom already knew Jenny was pregnant. She was furious when I mentioned her pre-natal check and let the cat out of the bag.

Where did it originate?

Britain, 18th century.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Let the cat out of the bag

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