let the cat out of the bag
accidentally reveal a secret
In Spanish
accidentally reveal a secret
Examples
- Don't let the cat out of the bag about the new product.
- She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
- During the interview, he let the cat out of the bag about his new project.
When it's used
This idiom is informal and often used in everyday conversation. It is suitable for situations where someone accidentally reveals a secret. It is not typically used in formal writing or speech.
The common mistake
A common mistake is using the literal calque 'go from the tongue', which is not English. English speakers would not understand this to mean revealing a secret.
Related idioms
FROM WHAT YOU READ TO WHAT YOU SAY
Recognising it isn't the same as using it
Reading an idiom and understanding it is step one. Dropping it into a conversation, at the right moment, without stopping to think, is another — and that only comes from speaking.
Practise speaking→