EPISODE · Apr 22, 2026 · 5 MIN
Let the Cat Out of the Bag: Secrets, Scams, and a Furious Cat
from Ridin’ Wordy · host ridinwordy
We use the phrase “let the cat out of the bag” when someone spills a secret… but what if it began with an actual scam? In this episode of Ridin’ Wordy, Sean Rhoads explores the wild and possibly shady history behind one of the most colorful phrases in the English language. Journey back to crowded medieval marketplaces, where buyers may have thought they were purchasing a piglet… only to open the sack and discover an angry cat instead. Was this the true origin of the phrase? Or just a story that survived because it was too good to forget? From fraud and folklore to modern spoilers and surprise reveals, this episode uncovers how a phrase about hidden truth may have clawed its way into everyday speech. You’ll never hear this saying the same way again.
What this episode covers
We use the phrase “let the cat out of the bag” when someone spills a secret… but what if it began with an actual scam? In this episode of Ridin’ Wordy, Sean Rhoads explores the wild and possibly shady history behind one of the most colorful phrases in the English language. Journey back to crowded medieval marketplaces, where buyers may have thought they were purchasing a piglet… only to open the sack and discover an angry cat instead. Was this the true origin of the phrase? Or just a story that survived because it was too good to forget? From fraud and folklore to modern spoilers and surprise reveals, this episode uncovers how a phrase about hidden truth may have clawed its way into everyday speech. You’ll never hear this saying the same way again.
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Let the Cat Out of the Bag: Secrets, Scams, and a Furious Cat
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