let the cat out of the bag

英語

詞源

（1700年代中期）與pig in a poke相對，如果一個不誠實的商人試圖把貓當作豬來賣，而貓出來了或者被人從袋子裡拿出來了，那麼這個商人的秘密就被泄露了。

發音

• 音訊（澳式）：

  (檔案)

動詞

let the cat out of the bag (第三人稱單數簡單現在時 lets the cat out of the bag，現在分詞 letting the cat out of the bag，一般過去時及過去分詞 let the cat out of the bag)

1. (俗語) 露餡；洩露秘密；使秘密爲人所知（多指不經意地）

   It was going to be a surprise party until someone let the cat out of the bag.

   要不是有人洩露了秘密的話，這本來會是一個驚喜派對的。

   • 1849, Currer Bell [筆名; Charlotte Brontë], Shirley. A Tale. […], 第 III 卷, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC:

     He proved himself as decent, decorous, and conscientious as Peter was rampant, boisterous, and — This last epithet I choose to suppress, because it would let the cat out of the bag.

     他爲人正派、端莊、真誠，而彼得卻是跋扈、暴烈和——這最後的形容詞，姑且從略，因爲寫出來會露餡的。

近義詞

• (使秘密爲人所知)： spill the beans, talk, tattle, blab, peach (廢棄), babble, sing

另見

• pig in a poke
• buy a pup
• sell a pup
• be sold a pup
• get off one's chest
• bare one's breast