從字面上理解,習語「let the cat out of bag」,可譯為「把貓從袋子裡放出來」,聽起來挺有趣的。那麼,它在實際語境中是什麼意思呢?不妨先從以下對話的語境中尋找答案。
A: Hey, Tom, what’s wrong with you?B: Next Friday is my wife’s birthday. I ordered a nice dinner for her in her favorite restaurant.(下周五是我妻子的生日,我在她喜歡的餐廳定了豐盛的晚宴。)B: Of course, I also invited her best friend Betty. But when Betty saw my wife in the market, she let the cat out of the bag and told her how glad she'd be to see her next Friday night. She sure spoiled my surprise.(當然,我也邀請了她最要好的朋友Betty,但是Betty在市場上碰見我妻子的時候洩密了,對她說自己有多高興下星期五晚上能和她聚聚。Betty可真是破壞了我的驚喜計劃。)從以上語境對話中不難看出,習語「let the cat out of bag」 有「走漏了風聲」,「洩露秘密」等意思。其英文釋義為「reveal a secret or a surprise by accident」。 其實,這個習語有一個典故,在中世紀,英國市場上有乳豬出售,由於乳豬會亂動,商人為了運送方便就把豬塞到一個帆布口袋裡遞給顧客。然而,有一些不法商人趁客人不注意,把貓冒充乳豬放進袋子,直到顧客回家把「貓」從袋子裡拿出來(let the cat out of bag), 才知道原來是個騙局。後面這個「秘密」的延申意義廣泛,不一定是詐人錢財的騙局,也可以指掩蓋某企業的財務困境,或者不為人知的戀情,也可能是在一種新產品上市前秘而不宣,免得競爭對手得到情報,甚至還可以是善意地隱瞞真相。
下面通過幾個例句,在具體的語境中進一步理解成語「let the cat out of bag」的涵義和用法:
eg1. We』d planned a surprise party for Jeana, but the guy she works with her let the cat out of the bag, so now she knows.
我們計劃了一個驚喜派對給吉娜,但是一個和她工作的人洩露了秘密,現在她知道了。
eg2.Their engagement was to be a secret but the ring on her finger let the cat of bag.
他們倆訂婚原本想保密的,可是她手上的戒指暴露了這個秘密。
eg3. Just keep your mouth shut, you will pay for this if you let the cat of the bag.
把你的嘴閉上,如果你把秘密洩露出去,你會付出代價。
eg4. Nobody knew she had been offered a good job until her husband let the cat out of the bag.
沒人知道她得到了一份好工作,直到她丈夫不小心說漏了嘴。
eg5. I wanted to surprise our sister by inviting a special guest home, but the little brother let the cat out of the bag by asking her what she would wear.
我本想邀請一位特別的客人回家,讓姐姐驚訝一下,但是弟弟竟然去問她將如何打扮,秘密就這樣洩露了。
現在活學活用,來個牛刀小試
I.語境翻譯
1. Jonathan loves to let the cat out of bag. Don’t tell him any secret.
2. 別搞砸了,這事兒是高度機密。不要冒險走漏了消息。
II.語境聯想
現實生活中,你們有遇到過秘密被人洩露或者你們有洩露過別人秘密的時候嗎?請用英語說說你遇到過哪些「let the cat out of bag」的境況。