To let the cat out of the bag

泄露秘密

Learning English Conversations

2012-03-26

3 分钟
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单集简介 ...

In this edition of The English We Speak find out the meaning of the expression 'To let the cat out of the bag'.
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单集文稿 ...

  • This is a download from the BBC.

  • For more information and our terms of use, go to bbcworldservice.com podcasts the English we speak from the BBC.

  • Hello, I'm William.

  • And I'm Graciela.

  • Will, I hope you've brought that poor cat for a very good reason.

  • It's terrified.

  • Well, I wanted to explain an English phrase, Graciella and I brought Whiskers in to help.

  • Well, he's not very happy about being stuffed into that bag.

  • You'd better hurry up and explain your phrase.

  • Ok, ok.

  • So, right.

  • I'm gonna tell you a very big secret.

  • Oh.

  • But you must promise never to let the cat out of the bag.

  • No, we must let him out.

  • He's unhappy, 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.

  • Ah, so it doesn't literally mean there is a cat in a bag, it just means that there is a secret that must be kept.