The phrase “leave the cat out of the bag” refers to revealing a secret. Its origin comes from medieval markets where unscrupulous merchants would substitute a cat for cattle in bags. The customer would only discover the scam upon opening the bag, so it was important not to let the cat out of the bag too soon.
Many people use the phrase “leave the cat out of the bag” to refer to divulging a secret, but are often unaware of the colorful story behind the term. As is the case with many idioms, the origins of the phrase are actually quite interesting and provide an intriguing insight into the lives of historical people. Delving into the origins of such terms can sometimes lead the researcher along fascinating tangents as well.
To understand the origins of “leaving the cat out of the bag,” it helps to understand how medieval markets worked. During the Middle Ages, markets or fairs were held to sell livestock, produce and other goods from a region. Most livestock were sold live, usually in bags so that the buyer could take them home in a relatively tidy manner. As a general rule, someone would inspect the pigs, chickens, etc. for sale and pick one, then the farmer would bag the animal so it could be transported.
Unscrupulous merchants might substitute a cat for cattle, since cats were readily available. The unsuspecting customer would take the bag home, open it, and realize they had been scammed. However, the storyline relied on not letting the cat out of the bag too soon. Had the exchange been opened to the market, the customer could have claimed compensation from the trader, as the secret would have been exposed. Of course, the pattern would also be based on a quiet cat, as most people know the difference between an oink and a meow.
Some people have claimed that the term is related to the cat nine tails used in naval discipline. However, this link seems tenuous at best, as there is no clear connection between letting the cat out of the bag and nautical punishments. Removing a whip from a purse is clearly not a euphemism for revealing a secret or spoiling a scam.
Incidentally, this practice is also related to the common term “pig in a poke”. A “poke” is a sack in some dialects, and a pig in a poke is, therefore, a pig in a sack or sack. The full idiom is usually “don’t buy a pig in a poke,” meaning buyers should inspect the goods before buying and taking them home. Otherwise, they might let the cat out of the bag too late, resulting in a pretty big disappointment.
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