{"id":12888,"date":"2023-01-02T22:32:19","date_gmt":"2023-01-03T05:32:19","guid":{"rendered":"<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Cat idioms and sayings about cats have been a part of our language. Some of them are funny, some are strange, some have interesting origins, and some have been repeated so many times. We use idioms every day, often without even re"},"modified":"2023-01-02T22:32:23","modified_gmt":"2023-01-03T05:32:23","slug":"cat-idioms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/cat-idioms\/","title":{"rendered":"50+ Useful Cat Idioms &#038; Sayings in English"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"words-head\" id=\"words-1517271125\"><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-5017566440575750\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-5017566440575750\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"3340569236\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p>Cat idioms and sayings about cats have been a part of our language. Some of them are funny, some are strange, some have interesting origins, and some have been repeated so many times. We use idioms every day, often without even realizing it. They create an evocative image that helps us describe a situation we are discussing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cat Idioms &amp; Cat Sayings! Learn common cat idioms, phrases, and sayings in English with meaning and example sentences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-color\">List of 50+ Useful Cat Idioms in English<\/mark><br><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">(Like) Herding Cats<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Difficult to coordinate (said of members of a group)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> There are some brilliant thinkers at our office, but getting them to work together is like herding cats.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">(There\u2019s) More Than One Way to Skin A Cat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> There are multiple ways to accomplish this task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Joe\u2019s user interface didn\u2019t work well, but there\u2019s more than one way to skin a cat.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">(To Put the) Cat Among(st) the Pigeons<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Cause a disturbance or disruption, usually intentionally<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> If we question the suspect now, it will put the cat among the pigeons, and his associates will scatter. Let\u2019s hold off for now.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">A Cat Burglar<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> refers to a burglar who uses stealth and agility to break into buildings. The first recorded use of this idiomatic expression was between 1905 &#8211; 1910.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> ven Rose had no proof that the cat burglar was in Cannes.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">A Cat Has Nine Lives<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Cats seem to get away with dangerous things<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The modern belief that a cat has nine lives comes from this tradition.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">A Cat In Gloves Catches No Mice<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> You can\u2019t get what you need if you\u2019re too careful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I think you\u2019ll get that promotion if you pursue it more assertively. A cat in gloves catches no mice, after all.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">A Cat May Look at a King<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> that a person of low social standing still has rights. That minimal human rights apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> &#8220;A cat may look at a king,&#8221; he wrote, &#8220;and sometimes a historian can challenge an economist.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">A Cat Nap<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> A short sleep during the day<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Overcome with exhaustion, he lies down on the bed for a catnap.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">A Copy Cat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> This idiom references a person who copies or imitates the actions of another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> This first copy cat murder threw him for a loss.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">A Scaredy-Cat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Someone who is excessively scared or afraid<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The fearless rodent proved he was no scaredy-cat as he astonishingly squared up to his large opponent and refused to budge \u2013 giving a new slant to the game of cat and mouse.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">All Cats are Grey at Night<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> A way of saying that in the dark, physical attributes are unimportant. Believed to have been first used by Benjamin Franklin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I really don&#8217;t care if she is ugly. All cats are gray in the dark.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">As Conceited as a Barbers Cat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> someone who has a high opinion of themselves or their importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> No one in the neighborhood cares for the Smiths. They&#8217;re always as conceited as a barber&#8217;s cat whenever they&#8217;re socializing with us.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">As Nervous as a Cat in a Room Full of Rocking Chairs<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> that a person is very nervous or jumpy. Believed to refer to the idea that cats are worried about having their tails trapped under a rocking chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I was nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs as I waited for them to announce the winner.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Bell the Cat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning: <\/strong>Take on a difficult or impossible task<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> It is difficult to get a man to bell the cat.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Busier Than a One-eyed Cat Watching Two Mouse Holes<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> that a person is extremely busy \u2013 almost frantic.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Busier Than a Three-legged Cat in a Dry Sandbox<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> hectic to the point of being frantic<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Can\u2019t Swing A Dead Cat In (Place) Without Hitting A (Thing)<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> There are many examples of [thing] in this [place]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> You can\u2019t swing a dead cat in Massachusetts without hitting a good pizzeria.<br><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color\">Note:<\/mark><\/strong> Fling a dead cat is also used.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cat Fight<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Meaning: A fight between two women<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Example: It was a wild night at the bar last night. A lot of people got drunk, and they were thrown out when they started arguing and a cat fight broke out.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cat Got Your Tongue?<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Don\u2019t you have anything to say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> What&#8217;s happened to all your brains, Frankie boy? Cat got your tongue?<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cat On A Hot Tin Roof<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Be extremely nervous<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Her many outstanding cinematic performances, including the role of Maggie in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, above, made her a certifiable American icon.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cat&#8217;s Cradle<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> This expression refers to something overly complicated. Likened to the children&#8217;s game &#8220;cat&#8217;s cradle.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The searchlights wove a cat&#8217;s cradle of light.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cat&#8217;s Meow<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Something outstanding or excellent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> That guy thinks he&#8217;s the cat&#8217;s meow.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color\">Read More:<\/mark><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/dog-idioms-and-phrases\/\">Dog Idioms and Phrases in the English Language<\/a><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cat-and-Mouse (adj.)<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> In a toying way; playful in an unpleasant way<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The shooting was just the latest tragedy in a cat-and-mouse game played since 1959.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cat\u2019s Paw<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> A person being used by someone else, a tool<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The prime minister has no real power. He\u2019s really just a cat\u2019s paw of business interests.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Cool Cat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Someone who has the respect of their peers in a young, casual way<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Tony is a cool cat. I really like him.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Curiosity Killed The Cat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Stop asking questions, don\u2019t be too curious<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The townspeople had learned the hard way that curiosity killed the cat &#8211; you stayed indoors if there was trouble.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Dead Cat Bounce<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> A phrase often used in the financial markets. This statement refers to an automatic recovery of the financial market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Are we witnessing a genuine recovery in the share price, or is it just a dead cat bounce?<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Dog My Cats<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> An expression of astonishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Well, dog my cats! I never thought I&#8217;d see you around these parts again!<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Enough to Make a Cat Laugh<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> that something is very, very funny.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> When he slipped on a banana skin it was enough to make a cat laugh.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Fat Cat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> A highly placed, well-paid executive<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The report criticised boardroom fat cats who award themselves huge pay increases.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Fight Like Cat And Dog<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Continually arguing with each other<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Those two fight like cat and dog, so please don\u2019t put them together on the project.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Grin Like a Cheshire Cat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> To smile broadly, in a very self-satisfied way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I like laughing while praised by teacher, teased by schoolmate, so much as criticized, I also grin like a Cheshire cat.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Hellcat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> A fiery, ill-tempered person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The husband is overcome really, go looking for hellcat to think way for him.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">High as the Hair on a Cat&#8217;s Back<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to describe something very expensive or valuable.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Keep No More Cats Than Will Catch Mice<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> a way of saying that you should be efficient<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Personally, I always try to keep no more cats than can catch mice.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Let the Cat Out of the Bag<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Reveal a secret, usually a secret you or others are trying to keep<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I tried to keep my birthday a secret but my brother let the cat out of the bag.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Like The Cat That Got The Cream<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Looking particularly self-satisfied, often to the annoyance of others<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> After her promotion, Janet spent the rest of the day looking like the cat that got the cream.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Look Like the Cat That Swallowed the Canary<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to be extraordinarily self-satisfied or smug. Often used to describe someone who is concealing some mischievous act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> They were smiling like the cat that swallowed the canary.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Look What the Cat Dragged In<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Someone unwelcome has arrived<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> In strolls Babs. &#8220;Now look what the cat&#8217;s dragged in,&#8221; says Jeanie, with a nod.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Morals of an Alley Cat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> References the actions of a stray cat that hangs around streets and alleyways of a town or city and refers to a person of loose morals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> He may have the morals of an alley cat but raping a semi-comatose girl was beyond him.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">No Room To Swing A Cat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Very small, not big enough<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> This bus is too crowded ! I have no room to swing a cat!<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Not Enough Room to Swing a Cat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> A very small space<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> It\u2019s a cute house, but there\u2019s no room to swing a cat.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Not have a cat in Hell&#8217;s Chance<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Have no possibility of succeeding, coming to pass, or achieving something<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> They don\u2019t have a cat\u2019s chance in hell of getting into the playoffs this year.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-luminous-vivid-amber-color\">Read More:<\/mark><\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/animal-idioms-in-english\/\">Animal idioms in English<\/a><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Play Cat And Mouse<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Trying to trick someone into making a mistake so you can defeat them<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Coy girls often like to play cat and mouse with Boys.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Pussyfooting Around<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Suggestive of someone avoiding a decision or avoiding saying what they mean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Stop pussyfooting around\/about and tell me what you really think.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Put The Cat Among The Pigeons<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Say or do something that causes trouble or controversy<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> The bank is poised to put the cat among the pigeons this morning by slashing the cost of borrowing.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Rain Cats And Dogs<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Rain very heavily<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> In a sunny winter morning, it might suddenly rain cats and dogs.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">See Which Way the Cat Jumps<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> A way of saying that you should wait until you see how things develop or progress before committing yourself to a course of action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> I&#8217;m sure nobody will commit themselves at this stage. They will see which way the cat jumps.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">She&#8217;s The Cat&#8217;s Mother<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> An expression often used to rebuke someone. Most often used when a mother is called &#8220;she&#8221; in a conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Who&#8217;s &#8216;she&#8217;, the cat&#8217;s mother?<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Sweeten the kitty<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Make something financially more attractive<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Before you decide which job offer to accept, perhaps we can offer you a few added fringe benefits to sweeten the kitty.\u201d<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">The Cat Is Out of the Bag<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> The secret has been revealed<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Maria told her friends about seeing us together at the movie. The cat is out of the bag.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">The Cat&#8217;s Pajamas<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Refers to a person who is the best at what they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example: <\/strong>Tom&#8217;s new Cadillac is really the cat&#8217;s pajamas!<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">There\u2019s More Than One Way To Skin A Cat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> There\u2019s more than one way of achieving a certain goal<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Our talks with the investment group may have fallen through, but there\u2019s more than one way to skin a cat!<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">To Bell a Cat<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> This expression refers to an impossible task. Believed to originate from the fable of a mouse who has the idea of hanging a bell around a cat&#8217;s neck to warn them of its approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Everybody seems to agree that we&#8217;ve got to bell the cat, but no one wants to step forward and volunteer to lead.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">To Have Kittens<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to be very upset or worried about something. A dramatic way of describing how frightened or upset you have been.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> A wild tabby cat has turned up in Welford and Mandy is worried. The poor cat is about to have kittens, and she has no one to look after her.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">To Turn the Cat in the Pan<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> to reverse to an outcome or situation. Also used to refer to someone who has turned traitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Benedict Arnold was a general in the Revolutionary War. At what point did he turn the cat in the pan?<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Walk Like a Cat on Eggs<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> taking great care and consideration in an activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Sometimes everyone feels like they are tiptoeing on eggs, but with friends we can be ourselves.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Wanton Kittens Make Sober Cats<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Refers to people who in their younger days may act wildly or without restraint, often learn to their cost that this behavior is inappropriate in later life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> wanton kittens make sober cats proverbial saying, early 18th century, meaning that someone who in youth is light-minded and lascivious may be soberly behaved in later life.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Weak as a Kitten<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> A way of describing someone as fragile or feeble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> She&#8217;s as weak as a kitten.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">While the Cats Away, the Mice Will Play<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> that people left unsupervised will do\/act as they please. That they will take advantage of the situation<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> While the bosses are out of the room, the workers watch the game \u2013 a case of while the cat&#8217;s away the mice will play.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Who\u2019s She, the Cat\u2019s Mother?<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Meaning:<\/strong> Why does she have such a high opinion of herself?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example:<\/strong> Samantha has been ordering everyone around lately. Who\u2019s she, the cat\u2019s mother?<br><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/d3c1yyje0uguxm.cloudfront.net\/2023\/01\/50-Useful-Cat-Idioms-Sayings-in-English-wordscoach.com_-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"50+ Useful Cat Idioms &amp; Sayings in English - wordscoach.com\" class=\"wp-image-12895\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/50-Useful-Cat-Idioms-Sayings-in-English-wordscoach.com_-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/50-Useful-Cat-Idioms-Sayings-in-English-wordscoach.com_-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/50-Useful-Cat-Idioms-Sayings-in-English-wordscoach.com_-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/50-Useful-Cat-Idioms-Sayings-in-English-wordscoach.com_-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/50-Useful-Cat-Idioms-Sayings-in-English-wordscoach.com_-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/50-Useful-Cat-Idioms-Sayings-in-English-wordscoach.com_.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/d3c1yyje0uguxm.cloudfront.net\/2023\/01\/50-Useful-Cat-Idioms-Sayings-in-English-wordscoach.com-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"50+ Useful Cat Idioms &amp; Sayings in English - wordscoach.com\" class=\"wp-image-12896\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/50-Useful-Cat-Idioms-Sayings-in-English-wordscoach.com-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/50-Useful-Cat-Idioms-Sayings-in-English-wordscoach.com-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/50-Useful-Cat-Idioms-Sayings-in-English-wordscoach.com-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/50-Useful-Cat-Idioms-Sayings-in-English-wordscoach.com-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/50-Useful-Cat-Idioms-Sayings-in-English-wordscoach.com-1-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/50-Useful-Cat-Idioms-Sayings-in-English-wordscoach.com-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cat idioms and sayings about cats have been a part of our language. Some of them are funny, some are strange, some have interesting origins, and some have been repeated so many times. We use idioms every day, often without even realizing it. They create an evocative image that helps us describe a situation we are discussing.<\/p>\n<p>List of Cat Idioms in English<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12895,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[81],"tags":[8938,8939,8933,8930,8941,956,957,6549,950,7149,8934,82,5697,958,8931,8935,8936,8932,955,8940,8937],"class_list":["post-12888","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-idioms","tag-50-cat-idioms-and-phrases","tag-50-most-important-idioms","tag-cat-idioms","tag-cat-idioms-sayings","tag-cat-idioms-with-meanings","tag-common-english-idioms","tag-common-idioms","tag-common-idioms-in-english","tag-english-idioms","tag-english-phrases-and-idioms","tag-idiome","tag-idioms","tag-idioms-and-phrases","tag-idioms-in-english","tag-idioms-native-speakers-use","tag-idioms-you-need-to-know","tag-idioms-you-should-know","tag-learn-50-idioms","tag-learn-english-idioms","tag-top-50-idioms-and-phrases","tag-useful-idioms-and-phrases"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/50-Useful-Cat-Idioms-Sayings-in-English-wordscoach.com_.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12888","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12888"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12888\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12888"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12888"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wordscoach.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12888"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}