let the cat out of the bag Definition

cat¹
noun

1. Any of a wide range of carnivorous mammals, including large cats such as the lion, tiger, jaguar, leopard and cheetah, as well as the domestic cat.
2. The domestic cat, which has many different breeds. See also feline.

Thesaurus: feline, tomcat, kitten, kitty, pussycat.
3. derog, colloq
Someone, especially a woman, with a spiteful tongue.
4. slang
A person.
5. A cat-o'-nine-tails.

Idiom: the cat's whiskers (the cat's pyjamas)

colloq
The best or greatest thing.
Example: Darren thinks he's the cat's whiskers

Idiom: fight like cat and dog

colloq
To quarrel ferociously.

Idiom: let the cat out of the bag

colloq
To give away a secret unintentionally.
Thesaurus: tell a secret, spill the beans (slang).

Idiom: like a cat on a hot tin roof (like a cat on hot bricks)

colloq
Very nervous or uneasy.

Idiom: like something the cat brought in (like something the cat dragged in)

colloq
Messy, dirty, untidy or bedraggled in appearance.

Idiom: no room to swing a cat

Having very little space; cramped.

Idiom: not have a cat in hell's chance

colloq
To have absolutely no chance.

Idiom: play cat and mouse with someone

To tease them cruelly by not letting them know exactly what one intends to do with them.

Idiom: put the cat among the pigeons (set the cat among the pigeons)

To do something, often suddenly, that is generally upsetting or disturbing.

Idiom: rain cats and dogs

colloq
To rain very heavily, usually for a long time.

Idiom: see which way the cat jumps

colloq
To wait to see how a situation develops before taking action.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon catte, from Latin cattus.

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let¹
verb let, letting

1a. To allow, permit, or cause to do something;

Example: let her daughter borrow the car
Thesaurus: allow, sanction, permit, authorize, OK, agree to, consent to, enable, empower, delegate, give leave, give the go-ahead to, give the green light to; Antonym: forbid, prohibit.
1b. Used in commands, orders, warnings, etc:;

Example: let him go
1c. Let us, used in suggestions: shall we.

Example: Let's go
Form: let's (contraction)
(Brit)
2. To give the use of (rooms, a building, or land) in return for payment.

Thesaurus: lease, rent, rent out, hire out.
3. math.philos.
To suggest a symbol or a hypothesis be understood as something.
Example: Let ‘D' be the distance travelled

noun

1. The leasing of a property, etc.

Example: got the let of the cottage for £100 a week
2. The period of time for which a property, etc is leased.

Example: a two-week let

Derivative: lettable
adj

Fit to be leased or capable of being leased.

Idiom: let alone

Used to link alternatives so that the extent of one's disapproval, surprise, etc is emphasized:.
Example: didn't even clear the table let alone do the washing up
Thesaurus: not to mention, not to speak of.

Idiom: let fall

To drop.

To mention or hint.

Idiom: let fly at someone

To attack them physically or verbally.

Idiom: let go of something

To release or stop holding it.
Thesaurus: relinquish, part with, release, dismiss, abandon; Antonym: keep, hold on to.

Idiom: let off steam

To show emotion, especially anger, in an unrestrained way.

Idiom: let oneself go

To act without restraint.

To allow one's appearance or lifestyle, etc to deteriorate.

Idiom: let someone alone (let someone be)

To avoid disturbing or worrying them.
Thesaurus: ignore, isolate, leave, leave in peace, let be, get off someone's back (slang).

Idiom: let someone have it

colloq
To attack them either physically or verbally.

Idiom: let someone know

colloq
To tell them something at a later time.
Example: let you know tomorrow if I can go

Idiom: let someone off the hook

To free them from a responsibility, commitment or promise.

Idiom: let something drop

To make secret information, etc known, especially unintentionally.

Idiom: let something loose

To release it.

Idiom: let the cat out of the bag

To let a secret out.

Idiom: let well alone

To hold back from interfering in something for fear of making it worse.
Thesaurus: forget, ignore, let alone.

Idiom: to let

Said of property: available for rent.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon lætan to permit.

Phrasal Verb: let someone or something down

To disappoint or fail to help them at a crucial time.To lower them or it.To allow the air to escape from something inflated.
Example: let down the tyres
To make longer.
Example: let the hem down

Phrasal Verb: let someone or something in, out

To allow or cause them to pass in, out, etc
Example: Will someone let the cat in?

Phrasal Verb: let someone in for something

To involve them in something difficult or unpleasant.

Phrasal Verb: let someone in on something

To share a secret, etc with them.

Phrasal Verb: let off

To fart.

Phrasal Verb: let someone off

To allow them to go without punishment, etc.To release them from work, duties, etc.

Phrasal Verb: let something off

To fire (a gun) or explode (a bomb).To release (liquid or gas).

Phrasal Verb: let someone or something out

To release them or it.

Phrasal Verb: let something out

To enlarge it.
Example: let out the waist of the jeans
To emit (a sound).
Example: let out a horrible scream

Phrasal Verb: let up

To stop or to become less strong or violent.
Example: The rain let up at last