英语翻译
Itisinthebag
Thebag--oneofthesimplestandmostusefulthingsineverymanorwoman'slife--hasgiventheworldmanystrangeexpressionsthatarenotverysimple.AnumberoftheseexpressionsarewidelyusedintheUnitedStatestoday.SomewereimportedfromEnglandalongtimeago.
Whenyouaresureofsomething,youcansay,"Itisinthebag."
Thisphraseseemedtohavearrivedwiththemodernpaperbag.Before,Americansusedtosay,"Itisallwrappedup."Then,thingsyouboughtwerewrappedinplainbrownpaper,orsometimesinoldnewspapers.
Anotherwidelyusedexpressionis"toletthecatoutofthebag",meaningtorevealawell-keptsecret.
Noonecanexplainhowthecatgotintothebag,orwhyitremainedthere.Butthereisanoldstoryaboutit.Longagotradesmensoldthingsinlargeclothbags.Onceawomanaskedforapig.Thetradesmanhelduphisclothbag.Insidetherewassupposedtobealivepig.Thewomanaskedtoseeit.Whenthedishonesttradesmanopenedthebag,outjumpedasquealingcat,notapig.Thetradesman'ssecretwasout:hewastricky,andnoweverybodyknewit.