Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Cat is out of the bag
(Originally posted March 27, 2006)
Definition: The truth has been exposed, there is no purpose to the deception any more.
Usage Example: "Well, the cat's out of the bag. I may as well tell you the whole story."
Origin: The origin of this is rather debatable. Supposedly, it was to describe some unscrupulous butcher's deception. You order a piglet, and he gives you this sack, which he said contains a piglet. You didn't think much of it. You take it and walk home. On the way, the bag start to wiggle. You open the bag to take a look, and a cat leaps out of the bag and disappears before you blink. No piglet. Just a cat out of the bag.
On the other hand, how did the unscrupulous butcher got the cat into the bag in the first place? :)
Chinese Equivalent: 紙包不住火﹖
Definition: The truth has been exposed, there is no purpose to the deception any more.
Usage Example: "Well, the cat's out of the bag. I may as well tell you the whole story."
Origin: The origin of this is rather debatable. Supposedly, it was to describe some unscrupulous butcher's deception. You order a piglet, and he gives you this sack, which he said contains a piglet. You didn't think much of it. You take it and walk home. On the way, the bag start to wiggle. You open the bag to take a look, and a cat leaps out of the bag and disappears before you blink. No piglet. Just a cat out of the bag.
On the other hand, how did the unscrupulous butcher got the cat into the bag in the first place? :)
Chinese Equivalent: 紙包不住火﹖
# posted by GuyReviews @ 10:28 AM 
