History-Sode | "The Cats Out of the Bag"

Why do we say this when a secret is revealed?

Sources used:

Oxford English Dictionary (OED) – historical citations for “let the cat out of the bag” and idiom notes

Merriam-Webster Dictionary – idiom entry and usage history

Etymonline (Online Etymology Dictionary) – discussion of proposed origins and early attestations

The Phrase Finder – idiom background, “pig in a poke” connection

Smithsonian Magazine (language/etymology features) – context on idioms with uncertain origins

The skinny

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