2006-08-28 12:01:52 · 7 answers · asked by Adam H 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
In medieval England, piglets were sold in the open marketplace. The seller usually kept the pig in a bag, so it would be easier for the buyer to take it home. But shady sellers often tried to trick their buyers by putting a large cat in the bag. If a shrewd shopper looked in the bag - then the cat was literally out of the bag.
2006-08-28 12:04:46 · answer #1 · answered by Munchkeen 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard when I was in junior high that the practice of selling a cat in a bag began during the Moorish occupation of Spain. Since pork was not eaten by the Moors, it was hard to obtain, and allegedly many Spaniards were tricked into buying a cat after being led to believe it was a piglet. Of course, when the buyer opened the bag, the deception was obvious and certainly no longer a secret.
This story would also account for the expression "Don't buy a pig in a poke," since "poke" is an old word for a bag or a sack.
2006-08-28 22:20:58 · answer #2 · answered by Chrispy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Meaning
To disclose a secret.
Origin
A favourite country trick used to be to substitute a cat for a pig at markets. If you let the cat out of the bag you disclosed the trick - and avoided buying a pig in a poke (bag).
2006-08-28 19:05:15 · answer #3 · answered by jcrules106 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its of English origin.
2006-08-28 19:08:21 · answer #4 · answered by *Ginelle* 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats used to be sold in bags.
2006-08-28 19:08:41 · answer #5 · answered by flignar 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The big secret has been exposed..
2006-08-28 19:07:11 · answer #6 · answered by goodygirl10 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
shakespeare
2006-08-28 19:03:53 · answer #7 · answered by iru 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋