Welcome back to our daily Idiom series — made to help you sound more natural in everyday English.
Today’s idiom is “Let the Cat Out of The Bag.” Let’s learn what it means, when to use it, and see some quick examples.
Quick Summary
Idiom: Hit the Nail on the Head
Meaning: To describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem
Example: When Priya said we need better communication in our team, she really hit the nail on the head.
Let the cat out of the bag idiom simply means to reveal a secret accidentally. Or share information that was meant to stay private. It’s like when someone blurts out a surprise before the right time — the “secret” (the cat) escapes from the “bag”!
Use this idiom in a situation when a person unintentionally spoils a surprise, leaks confidential news, or exposes something that others didn’t want to be known yet.
Let the Cat Out of The Bag Idiom Examples
- Rohan let the cat out of the bag by telling everyone about the office bonus before it was announced.
- I accidentally let the cat out of the bag about my sister’s engagement while talking to my friends.
- Meera let the cat out of the bag when she mentioned the secret trip during dinner.
- The teacher let the cat out of the bag about the surprise quiz for next week.
- Before the movie release, one actor let the cat out of the bag about the ending.
- Don’t let the cat out of the bag — it’s supposed to be a birthday surprise!
- When he shared the news on social media, he really let the cat out of the bag.
- The kids let the cat out of the bag when they told mom about the gift we bought.
- I didn’t mean to let the cat out of the bag; it just slipped out during the conversation.
- The manager let the cat out of the bag about the upcoming project by mistake.
Want to learn more idioms easily? Check out our Complete Guide to Everyday American Idioms—you’ll find more simple meanings, fun examples, and real-life practice!
Similar Idioms
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Spill the beans | To reveal a secret |
| Blow the whistle | To expose something hidden or wrong |
| Give the game away | To accidentally reveal a plan or secret |
| Slip of the tongue | Saying something unintentionally |
| The secret’s out | Everyone now knows the secret |
If you want to learn about all the American Idioms, then here is our best curated complete list of A-Z Idioms list in one place.