Kiwiland Bear Apr 28, 2011:

To continue: So: "to let the cat out and let secret services know" would mean a surprise sprung on them. They didn't expect to hear or learn of that but they did.

On the other hand: "шила в мешке не утаишь, и эти намерения стали достоянием" means that there was no chance of keeping them secret. The services in question were bound to find out that sort of common knowledge thing.

Kiwiland Bear Apr 28, 2011:

cat out of the bag I don't think "cat out of the bag" has quite the same meaning. I always thought it has a strong element of surprise in it (the cat version I mean). A quick check shows that on-line references support that:

- "to reveal a secret or a surprise by accident" (the free dictionary);
- "to tell something that is a secret, often without intending to".

The Russian version on the contrary - implies that it's an open secret. Something so obvious, it is impossible to keep secret. So, to me at least, those two proverbs are almost opposite in meaning!

Oleksiy Markunin Apr 28, 2011:

You can go with smth like "But you can't hide the obvious" if you do not want to use a proverb.

Andrei Yefimov Apr 28, 2011:

@spanruss It is Scottish. http://www.english-sayings.com/what-is-done-by-night-appears... http://thinkexist.com/quotation/the_day_has_eyes-the_night_h...

Rachel Douglas Apr 28, 2011:

My opinion ... so you can take it or leave it. "Professional business audiences" are often dull and boring, and deserve to have their lives spiced up by some nice proverbs, of whatever provenance.

Mark Berelekhis Apr 28, 2011:

Not sure I agree You have a proverb in the source, presumably for the same audience. You can change it, of course, but I don't see the need.

spanruss (asker) Apr 28, 2011:

After thinking about it, I don't think it would be appropriate for the translation to sound like a proverb, since it is for a professional business audience. Based on all of your submissions, I'm currently thinking of translating it as below (but welcome any smoother sounding suggestions):
But these intentions weren't easy to hide and they fell into the hands of the intelligence agency.