The phrase "let out bag" is often misspelled as "letting out bag," causing confusion in its meaning. The correct spelling is "let out bag," which refers to a bag that can be expanded or stretched out to accommodate more items. The pronunciation of this phrase in IPA phonetic transcription is /lɛt aʊt bæɡ/, with emphasis on the "let" and "out" sounds. So, one should be mindful and use the correct spelling of this phrase to avoid any misunderstandings.
The phrase "let the cat out of the bag" is an idiomatic expression that conveys the act of inadvertently revealing a secret or divulging information that was meant to be kept confidential. It can also be used metaphorically to describe any situation where hidden or confidential knowledge becomes publicly known or evident.
The origins of this phrase can be traced back to ancient markets where buyers would typically purchase a piglet that was placed inside a bag. Unscrupulous sellers, if caught, would replace the valuable piglet with a cheaper cat, tightly securing the bag to prevent any suspicions. However, if the fraudulent seller failed to ensure the secrecy of the transaction and accidentally revealed the substitution by "letting the cat out of the bag," the deceit would be uncovered.
In contemporary usage, "letting the cat out of the bag" refers to the revealing of a secret, as if the concealed truth were unintentionally released from its hiding place. This idiomatic expression often implies that once the secret is exposed, it cannot be undone, similar to how releasing a cat from a bag is irreversible. Additionally, it suggests betrayal or carelessness on the part of the person who divulges the information, as they may have unintentionally caused harm or consequences by revealing what was meant to remain undisclosed.