BBC Learning English
The English We Speak
20 March 2012
To let the cat out of the bag
Cat: Miaoooowwwwww!
Will: Hello, I'm William.
Graciela: And I'm Graciela. Will, I hope you've brought that poor cat for a very good
reason. It's terrified!
Will: Well I wanted to explain an English phrase. And I brought Whiskers to
help.
Cat: Miaow.
Graciela: Well he's not very happy about being stuffed into that bag. You'd better
hurry up and explain your phrase.
Will: Okay, okay. So, right. I'm going to tell you a very big secret.
Graciela: Oh?
Cat: Miaow?
Will: But you must promise never to let the cat out of the bag!
Graciela: No, we must let him out, he is unhappy, Will.
Cat: Miaow!
Will: No, no. I mean in English, when we say 'you mustn't let the cat out of the
bag', it means that something is a secret and that you mustn't tell anyone.
Graciela: Ah, so it doesn't literally mean there is a cat in a bag. It just means that
there's a secret that must be kept.
Cat: Miaow.
Will: Exactly. And I brought Whiskers in just to help you remember the
expression. If you let the cat out of the bag, it means that you reveal a
secret. Listen to some examples.
Examples
We need to keep this quiet! If anyone lets the cat out of the bag there'll be trouble!
We were going to have a surprise birthday for dad, but my silly brother let the cat out of
the bag the day before.
Well the cat's out of the bag now. Everyone knows Amy will be given the lead role.
The English We Speak © British Broadcasting Corporation 2012
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Graciela: Okay I get it.
Cat: Miaow.
Graciela: But I'm not at all interested in secrets until we get this real cat out of this
real bag. I'm going to let it out!
Cat: Miaoooowwwwww!
Graciela: Owwwwww!
Will: I actually meant it when I said don't let the cat out of the bag. Whiskers is
a bit crazy.
Graciela: Your cat is berserk, get him off me!
Cat: Miaooowww!
Will: Well, now you'll remember not to let the cat out of the bag next time!
The English We Speak © British Broadcasting Corporation 2012
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