Let the Cat Out of the Bag - Say What?!
Clip: Season 2023 | 3m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Travel to "Ye Olde Marketplace" to explore the idiom, "let the cat out of the bag."
When we say "let the cat out of the bag," we mean someone has revealed some secret information, often by accident. But what does this saying have to do with a medieval marketplace and little piglets? Find out the origins of this animal idiom with Say What?!
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Camp TV is a local public television program presented by THIRTEEN PBS
Let the Cat Out of the Bag - Say What?!
Clip: Season 2023 | 3m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
When we say "let the cat out of the bag," we mean someone has revealed some secret information, often by accident. But what does this saying have to do with a medieval marketplace and little piglets? Find out the origins of this animal idiom with Say What?!
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[upbeat music] - [Announcer] Attention all ye peasants and lords.
In desperate need of goods and services?
[horse neighs] Well, come on down to... - [Group] Ye Olde Marketplace.
[air swooshes] - [Announcer] And for today's featured item, feast your eyes upon our oink-tastic collection of premium little piggies.
[sign swooshes] - [Group] Hurray!
[music screeches] - [Narrator] Sorry, everybody.
Hi, it's me, your narrator.
[sign creaking] I should explain.
[jaunty music] Have you ever heard the saying "let the cat out of the bag?"
What do you think that means?
- [Kid] I mean, it sounds familiar, but I don't know what it means.
- [Kid] You are nice to animals?
- [Kid] Maybe like to open the door?
- [Kid] You accidentally, like, spilled the beans or like said the secret.
[bell dings] - Exactly.
If someone lets the cat out of the bag, it means they've revealed some secret information, often by accident.
[air swooshes] - Mom, Charlotte told me about my surprise party.
- Charlotte.
[upbeat music] - Um, so yeah, I might have accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the party.
[Mom groans] But hey, at least I didn't tell him about the surprise magician.
- Sweet.
[bouncy music] - Is it showtime?
[bouncy music] [Mom sighs] - [Narrator] But why do we say "let the cat out of the bag"?
And what does it have to do with a cat and a bag?
[upbeat music] [air swooshes] One idea has to do with a little trick played on people shopping at places like Ye Olde Marketplace hundreds and hundreds of years ago.
[dramatic music] Okay, imagine a shopper who's been saving up to buy a live piglet [piglet snorts] from a farmer.
- [Shopper] Good farmer, who I will just assume is honest and trustworthy, your finest piglet please.
- [Narrator] And after agreeing on a price, the farmer says.
- [Farmer] Good shopper, here is a bag which most definitely is holding that very expensive piglet.
Hey, is that the King?
[suspenseful music] - [Farmer] Doo doo doo doo.
- [Narrator] Now, some think the farmer would secretly put a cat, [cat meows] instead of a piglet, into the bag.
- [Farmer] You see cats are much cheaper than piglets and are about the same weight and shape when you hold the bag.
Well, there's your ca- uh, piglet.
- [Shopper] Oh, thank you.
Now, that I've walked several hours home, ignoring the strange meowing sounds coming from my bag, let's check in on my new little piggie.
[drum roll] [Shopper gasps] - [Narrator] And there you have it.
By letting the cat out of the bag, [cat meows] the secret is revealed.
[Shopper sighs] This idea appeared in print way back around 1350.
- [Speaker] When you offer a pig, open the bag.
- [Narrator] Encouraging anyone selling a pig to prove that it's really inside the bag.
- [Cat] Hey, can't a cat get a little peace and quiet?
- [Narrator] It just goes to show you that language [graphics bonging] is full of surprises.
[air swooshes] [pig snorts] So maybe you'll think of a marketplace from centuries ago [cat meows] the next time you accidentally reveal a secret and [graphics pop] let the cat out of the bag.
[cat meows] [upbeat music] [upbeat music continues] - [Magician] Is it showtime?
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