let the cat out
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Or LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, a common phrase, which implies that a secret is to be or has been let out.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Examples
You shouldn't have let the cat out of the bag about being pregnant so soon. I wanted to surprise everyone.Lẽ ra em không nên tiết lộ việc em có mang quá sớm. Anh muốn làm mọi người ngạc nhiên.
Tatoeba sentence #837018 (CC BY 2.0 FR, tatoeba.org, retrieved 2026-07-31)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “let the cat out” mean?
Or LET THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG, a common phrase, which implies that a secret is to be or has been let out.
Is “let the cat out” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.