pig in a poke

pig in a poke
«Свинья в мешке», т. е. что-либо такое, о достоинстве, качестве чего заранее не знаешь. Это часть выражения to buy или to sell a pig in a poke («купить или продать кота в мешке»). Подчас на ярмарках человеку, покупающему поросёнка, давали мешок, в который сажали кота, в расчёте на то, что покупатель не откроет мешок до приезда домой. Poke — это старый вариант слова pocket (карман; мешочек). Отсюда происходит выражение to let the cat out of the bag (выпустить кота из мешка) — проболтаться, проговориться, разболтать, выдать секрет, выдать себя.

He said he didn't know Mary Smith, but he let the cat out of the bag by mentioning her to his wife's brother, who, of course, told his wife. — Он сказал, что не знает Мэри Смит, но проговорился о ней брату своей жены, который, конечно, рассказал об этом его жене.


English-Russian dictionary of expressions. 2014.

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Смотреть что такое "pig in a poke" в других словарях:

  • Pig in a poke — is an idiom that refers to a confidence trick originating in the Late Middle Ages, when meat was scarce but apparently rats and cats were not.The scheme entailed the sale of a suckling pig in a poke (bag). The wriggling bag actually contained a… …   Wikipedia

  • pig in a poke — If someone buys a pig in a poke, they buy something without checking the condition it was in, usually finding out later that it was defective …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • pig in a poke — pig′ in a poke′ n. something purchased, accepted, or acquired without a preliminary examination • Etymology: 1520–30 …   From formal English to slang

  • pig in a poke — something offered in such a way that the one to whom it is offered does not know exactly what the thing is nor what its real value is was too shrewd ever to buy a pig in a poke * * * something not adequately appraised or of undetermined value, as …   Useful english dictionary

  • pig in a poke — {n. phr.} An unseen bargain; something accepted or bought without looking at it carefully. * /Buying land by mail is buying a pig in a poke: sometimes the land turns out to be under water./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • pig in a poke — {n. phr.} An unseen bargain; something accepted or bought without looking at it carefully. * /Buying land by mail is buying a pig in a poke: sometimes the land turns out to be under water./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • pig in a poke — Date: 1562 something offered in such a way as to obscure its real nature or worth < unwilling to buy a pig in a poke > …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • pig\ in\ a\ poke — n. phr. An unseen bargain; something accepted or bought without looking at it carefully. Buying land by mail is buying a pig in a poke: sometimes the land turns out to be under water …   Словарь американских идиом

  • pig in a poke —    If someone buys a pig in a poke, they buy something without checking the condition it was in, usually finding out later that it was defective.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • pig in a poke — See a pig in a poke …   English idioms

  • pig in a poke — something accepted or bought without looking at it carefully The stereo system he bought was a pig in a poke. He has no idea if it will work well …   Idioms and examples


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