Select the most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence.

I accidentally let the cat out of the bag about your promotion.

To reveal a secret

The most appropriate meaning of the underlined idiom in the given sentence is to reveal a secret.

The idiom "let the cat out of the bag" is thought to have originated in the 17th century, and is thought to be based on the image of a cat being kept in a bag. When the cat is let out of the bag, its presence is revealed.

The idiom is now used more generally to describe any situation where a secret is revealed, either intentionally or unintentionally.

In the given sentence, the speaker is saying that they accidentally revealed the secret of the other person's promotion. This means that the speaker revealed something that was supposed to be kept confidential.

The other options are not as appropriate meanings for the idiom "let the cat out of the bag":

• To state the wrong facts: This is not the meaning of the idiom. Stating the wrong facts is not the same as revealing a secret.
• To say something unrealistic: This is not the meaning of the idiom. Saying something unrealistic is not the same as revealing a secret.
• To discourage someone: This is not the meaning of the idiom. Revealing a secret is not the same as discouraging someone.