To have no chance at all. Answer: This expression is is used to say that something or someone is better or smarter than they first appear or look. Meaning: Taking great care and consideration in an activity. Not only do we think kitties are just purrfect, we also love those whiskery words and feline phrases. I love this quote (in the image below) from Lewis Carroll. The cokehead likely existed before 1922, but it is in that year that we first see written evidence of the word. It possibly originated from stories of witches whose cats would steal the tongue of their victims to prevent them from telling others. This is a way of saying that you are fed up or annoyed with yourself. Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. A dramatic way of describing how frightened or upset you have been. "I'm watching how ridiculous everyone else looks, and I wonder why they don't realize it. This would be considered an impolite way of addressing a person and can often result in the above rebuke be uttered in response. Which day of the week do cats love the most? - L.W. Before beginning to peruse these cat idioms and phrases, make sure you are sitting comfortably. Youve got to be kitten me. Delivered to your inbox! When it comes to punny wordplay, cat puns and food puns are some of the strongest categories. Sometimes seen as being a disrespectful way of being addressed, giving rise to a response of "whose SHE, the cat's mother.". Can we call a funny friend a crazy cat? The other possible origin is the fact that cold turkey is a dish that is quick and easy to prepare. Question: What does it mean if someone calls a person "catty"? Youve come to the right place. Very cute. Man in crowd: Stop pushing! Elinor Glyn: [voiceover] To this day no two accounts of that weekend cruise are the same, including who, in fact, who was on the boat. Check out our posts on regional slang terms for dogs, linguistic (and literal) animal blends, and how to speak rabbit. Charlie Chaplin: If you were starving and you had no food, would you eat your shoe? Curiosity killed the cat came later, around 1898. This expression refers to something overly complicated. Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. 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. In the home, these incidents often occur on the carpet. Cat fancier Rob "Power of the Meow" Stanson has been an observer and studied cats for over twenty years. To be on the nut to be without money; broke, 3. Oddly enough, the term for this bomb predates the making of the bomb itself (the first one was exploded in 1945). Robot comes from the title of a play by the Czech writer Karel apek, R.U.R. Question: What does "cat said how to sleep mean? Handcuff a wedding or engagement ring, 12. They are likely to take advantage of the situation. 9. A way of describing someone as fragile or feeble. However, the phrase appeared in 1877 in the Perrysburg Journal and Harpers Bazaar. Fascism initially referred simply to the doctrines of the fascisti, the Italian political party which gave rise to Benito Mussolini. Synonyms for Cat's pajamas. Meaning: This feline phrase is used fairly often as well. One moose, two moose. These expressions often embody the unique traits and behaviors of cats, from their curiosity to their independence. Youre probably familiar with some of these phrases (Cat got your tongue?), but have you ever wondered where these phrases came from and what they mean? 2023. Question: What does the phrase "I have never seen a cats tail do that" mean? As Nervous as a Long-Tailed Cat in a Room Full of Rocking Chairs, 10. # informal bee's knees # excellence dream n. # pleasure , beauty jim-dandy adj. An opium addict is a 'yenshee baby.'" I'm no scaredy cat. It's said that these severed body parts were given to the king's pet cats as their daily food, a rather gruesome feast to be sure. Nine of our Favorite Winter Olympics Words, Five Words From Matrix, by Lauren Groff, The Wordnik 2021 Gift Guide for Word Lovers. It means to beware of thin or dangerous ice. Cat got your tongue? It is a way to say that a thank you is all well and good, but it will not by itself provide what you want or need. Busier Than a Three-legged Cat in a Dry Sandbox, Meaning: Hectic to the point of being frantic. A reference to the sleek pose of a cat. Clam a dollar or a buck 6. The saying "Its the cat's meow." was first used in the Roaring '20s when many sayings about cats became popular. If you put a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs that were rocking away, the cats tail would most likely get squashed at some point by a rocker, which means the cat would be pretty nervous. 1 review. Turn up the mewsic and lets get this pawty started! Answer: I have heard this phrase used to describe someone who is destined to be lonely in their old age. Use the search! Action and reaction.". Three weeks later the San Diego district attorney conducted an obligatory investigation, and was quote: "Satisfied that the death of Thomas H. Ince was caused by heart failure as a result of acute indigestion." Answer: This has the meaning that a person is being spiteful, or deliberately hurtful in their words or actions. The cat photos are a nice touch. 18 Apr. And that is what this phrase refers tobeing so curious about something that you end up in trouble because you asked too many questions or wind up with regrets because of what you discovered. 1. Currently, I believe that the expression is used in relation to the unique look of a hairless cat and is a way of saying that something or someone has an unusual look, probably not conforming to the normal accepted standards or rules. Wet blanket someone who ruins other peoples fun; a drag. - Cat got your tongue - The phrase probably comes from the rather brutal ancient Mideast custom of punishing a liar by forcibly removing tongue. If a shrewd shopper looked in the bag - then the cat was literally out of the bag. Another way to say Cat's Pajamas? They all relate in some way to the nervous or "jumpy" nature a cat displays when it is stressed or anxious. I wonder if this is being confused with the idiom "the bees knees", which has the meaning of something being excellent or impressive. Question: What is the meaning of "When the cat is away the mice will play"? Busier Than a One-eyed Cat Watching Two Mouse Holes. The first recorded use of this idiomatic expression was between 1905 - 1910. Staying with the cat theme, another example of this being: "as brave as a lion.". And not a single person who was there wrote or spoke about that weekend, that is until significantly after the old man's death, and even then, only in riddles. How every letter can be (annoyingly) silent. 4, Rare and Amusing Insults: Cockalorum, Snollygoster, and More, 'Couple,' 'Few,' and 'Several': The (Mostly) Definitive Guide. 2. William Shakespaw. Misty Layne lives out in the woods in small-town Alabama with her two Siamese catsSerafina and Jasper. Meaning: If a cat manages to free a canary from its cage to eat it, then you can imagine that feline would be pretty smug! Answer: To call someone a "crazy cat" can mean that you find them or their behaviour outrageous and unconventional. The Cat's Meow is a 2001 period drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, and starring Kirsten Dunst, Eddie Izzard, Edward Herrmann, Cary Elwes, Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Tilly. Answer: To refer to someone or a situation as being like a cat on the wall, is to suggest that a person is refusing to take sides. David Michie, The Dalai Lama's Cat and the Power of Meow. Question: What does - Its your cat and now you'll have to wool it mean? They've even invented a language so they could "communicate" with humans. https://www.quotes.net/movies/the_cat's_meow_144829, https://www.quotes.net/movies/the_cat's_meow_quotes_144829. Refers to a person who is the best at what they do. "A cat has nine lives.". Dishonest sellers might replace the piglet with a cat, which was less valuable. "Care" was a warning that worry is bad for your health and can lead to an early grave; the phrase was a recognition that cats seem to be very cautious and careful. Another one was animal-themed nonsense phrases that described something excellent. 38. It's meaning changed to that used today sometime around the early 20th century. You pull the tail in New York, and it meows in Los Angeles. How to use the cat's meow in a sentence. Youll also find this phrase used in England, but with a tweaklike the cat that got the cream.. Charlie Chaplin: I don't know, Tom. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. There aren't any specific idioms or phrases that I am aware of that explain this definitively. Soon, a woman who gossiped about other women was said to be making "catty" remarks about them. However, the phrase might also only date to 19th century England and the United States, when the phrase was used on children who had gotten in trouble and wouldnt answer questions. Meaning: That you should take care to look into something too profoundly. Likened to the children's game "cat's cradle." Question: Are there any cat related proverbs that are used to say someone is bad tempered? Elinor Glyn: After we all leave, the man in the box will disappear. :O. Ben Reed (author) from Redcar on November 17, 2017: Thank you. Three days after Tom's funeral Charlie married Lita Grey in Mexico. But others may use the term in a derogatory way to describe someone of shady character or repute. Answer: This is an expression that I have heard before, although quite rarely. Also, when talking about someone who is very calm or slow to anger. It's 1920s slang similar to the following. That minimal human rights apply. "My Dogs are barking.". That new car was really the cat's pyjamas. They therefore spend a great deal of their time cat- napping when they are in a state of light sleep. Answer: The term "cats eyes", is often made with reference to precious gems that have a changing lustre. It seems that cats have a greater impact on people and our language than we might first imagine. Answer: This is a way of saying that you are wasting your time if you want a person to respond in a meaningful way to your question. "Cats are a mysterious kind of folk." Sir Walter Scott "It is better to feed one cat than many mice." - author unknown (Norwegian proverb) "If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve the man but deteriorate the cat." - Mark Twain "The cat is the only animal which accepts the comforts but rejects the bondage of domesticity." You've cat to be kitten me right meow. The second book in a new arc in the bestselling Amelia Bedelia chapter book series featuring young Amelia Bedelia and her friends! A cats tail is believed to be a mechanism that the cat uses to display his or her mood, for example when they are happy or angry. There is a curious discrepancy in the English language between the number of words to describe a man who has an unfaithful wife and the number to describe a wife so afflicted. It is a simile, rather than being an idiom. In any event, in 1925 we get a nice gender-neutral word, extramarital, which can be used without fear of impugning either sex. By 1871, a timid person might be called a fraidy-cat, perhaps from the pusss practice of leaping and scattering when startled. Believed to refer to the idea that cats are worried about having their tails trapped under a rocking chair. Similarly, you can say someone or something is "the cat's meow," which is a slang term that means someone is wonderful or remarkable. 8 Reasons for This Behavior, Can Adult Cats Eat Kitten Food? 25. "Delcevare King of Quincy last night announced that 'scofflaw' is the winning word in the contest for the $200 he offered for a word, to characterize the 'lawless drinker' of illegally made or illegally obtained liquor." The OEDs earliest citation is from 1986 while other sources mention a slightly earlier one from 1985. To save this word, you'll need to log in. I am not amused. Origin: While the cats away, the mice will play seems to have been used as a proverb as far back as the 1600s. Just like eating a crow. "That experience will dog him forever.". And thats the meaning of this phraseto feel smug or self-satisfied with something youve done. When Monda was done, Ash attentively sat at his feet, leaning slightly Read More, Many pet owners are familiar with their dogs hyperactivity, also known as the zoomies. : Rossum's Universal Robots, published in 1920. In fact, some are downright clawful and even cat-astrophic. He did not examine the body because Ince had been cremated immediately, and except for Dr. Goodman, no member of the boating party was ever questioned, including Hearst. A way of saying that you should wait until you see how things develop or progress before committing yourself to a course of action. Boy, that singer last night was the cat's meow, wasn't she? Beggars never feed stray cats as street cats are self-sustaining. When saying that a person is "of the cat", they are comparing them to the characteristics of the cat. Cat food puns that earn two paws up. Origin: This idiom was coined by American journalist and cartoonist Thomas Dorgan, who also invented several other phrases and superlatives. The screenplay by Steven Peros is based on his play of the same title, which was inspired by the mysterious death of film mogul Thomas H. Ince that occurred on William Randolph Hearst's boat with Charles Chaplin on board. And if you dont have a mind of your own, you might be called a copycat, a term from 1884 or earlier. Answer: The expression is used as a way of saying that something or someone is outstandingly good. Enjoy These Funny Cat Sayings With Photos! This is the whisper told most often. This phrase can also be used in the context of describing a person who may choose to appear worse than they actually are. An non-excellent cat phrase from 1928 is to look or feel like something the cat dragged in. By the end of the decade robotic (1928) had also been adopted. Answer: I have heard this expression being used to describe a situation where a crying cat is believed to be an omen of something evil or unnatural. Question: I have heard the expression: "That cat has a long tail". Question: What does "Starving like a cat in an empty house" mean? ( idiomatic) A highly sought-after and fancy example of something, usually referring to inanimate objects . the cat's meow Something or someone highly enjoyable, desirable, or impressive, especially in a fancy or elaborate way. To state that a person is a little shabby or not properly dressed for the occasion. Despite costing a small fortune the picture was a smashing success. - Frederick Mullally, The Call, 31 December 1945, : an establishment which provides lodging and parking and in which the rooms are usually accessible from an outdoor parking area. The origins of this idiomatic saying remain unclear. "I was having coffee with a friend the other day and not feeling terribly communicative and she asked me 'Cat got your tongue?' The cat's meow Question: What is the meaning of the saying: of cats? 1. Have a mice day! To say that something is ironic or very funny. I have also heard this said to imply that a person is shirking their responsibilities. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Answer: This is not a phrase that I am familiar with. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. Meaning: Its raining cats and dogs simply means it is raining heavily. Our cats are a large part of our lives and have played a huge role throughout humanitys history. When the cat's away the mice will play. n. # excellence. While we love seeing a unique garden with a variety of plants, some can be very dangerous for our canines. "As for Mr. Kirby, his appeal mystifies me, but I once knew a maiden aunt who thought he was the cat's meow." Top 10 Cat Idioms & Sayings. Get all the latest articles, funny photos, and amazing pet-related offers weekly right in your inbox. The phrase to rain cats and dogs goes all the way back to at least 1661, says the OED. What did the cat say after making a joke? Paw McCartney. Editors note: This article is a re-run as part of our countdown of top stories from the past year. The English language is funny at timestake idioms, for example. Believed to have been first used by Benjamin Franklin. Lumley's zingers as Glyn cut right through the hypocritical grease. Then I see that in fact, I too look like a fool. I can tell you have a secret its kitten all over your face! Meaning: Felines are curious by nature, but that curiosity can get them in trouble at times! Essentially, dont go poking your nose into things that dont concern you! We all know that a cat believes that it is in charge and rules the roost. See also: be the cat's meow meow Hotsy totsy comfortable; stable or secure, 15. W.'" - Dear Abby (Abigail Van Buren), The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union, 11 June 1958, :any bomb whose explosive power is due to the release of atomic energy. "The Cat's Meow Quotes." Want more animal words and phrases? After all, it's fire that can hurt you, not ashes. It's tempting to think of the 1960s as the decade in which drug culture took off and began to destroy the minds and souls of our youth, but drugs and the abuse of them were common well before then. How about a cat nap? . Cats came to symbolize down-pouring rain, and dogs to symbolize strong gusts of wind. Web. Yet it's so much fun that none of us can stop. Pet Keen is reader-supported. Subscribe to any feature and receive your newsletter directly in your inbox. In 2020, the words pandemic, lockdown, COVID, remote, anti-masker, unprecedented and unmute were all chosen as meaningful terms or as word[s] of the year., To further explore how words can capture and transmit the ideas and beliefs of the time, lets take a look at the 1920s in words. The atom bomb (also called the A-bomb, and the atomic bomb) is seen as one of the great signifiers of the modern age. I was suprised at the number of these idioms too. The wireless is the same, only without the cat. Heres why. If cats could send birthday cards well, they wouldnt. Question: What does it mean when saying: "get the cat doctored"? It is similar to the phase "to skate on thin ice". Perfectly match your beautiful mood 3.Pure colors are more versatile and fashionable Season:Autumn And Winter Gender: Women Occasion:Casual Material:Polyester Pattern Type:printing . Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved. Thomas Ince: Because you have the power to act uncivilized. The saying was made even more popular by a commercial from 2000. I agree with Lewis Carroll, it doesn't matter what words you use when speaking to the cat, the cat will purr. We know this because it came about as the result of a contest sponsored by a man named Delcevare King, who wanted to create a word that would be used to describe a person who did not observe the rules of Prohibition. I am back on the Oneida, having a glorious time. She retired in 1937, but stayed by Hearst's side until his death at the age of 88. The celebration is cut short by an unusual death that would go on to become the subject of legendary Hollywood folklore. Question: What does the expression, like a hairless cat mean? Question: What does as calm as a cat mean? Claim your rewards from the Reader Perks section. 30. Both the phrase 'the cat's meow' and 'the cat's pajamas' were commonly used by young people in the 1920's, often interchangeably, to describe things that are cool. Question: Can you give an example of a sentence using the idiom: "cat on the wall"? The term jazz age - often said to have been coined by F. Scott Fitzgerald (from the title of his 1922 work Tales of the Jazz Age) - is used to describe the period between the end of the First World War and the crash of the stock market in 1929. Meaning: The meaning of this one is fairly explanatory. more on this quote . - Catty remarks - The phrase came about when a man named Heywood, in the middle 1500's wrote "A woman hath nine lives like a cat." Soon, a woman who gossiped about other women was said to be making "catty" remarks about them. Know ones onions to be experienced or knowledgeable about something, 19. Post more words for cat's meow to Facebook, Share more words for cat's meow on Twitter. A phrase used when referring to someone who has very little to say for themselves. PetKeen.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. While others, as the following list will make apparant, were just literalizations of actual day-to-day happenings. Around this time we also see words concerning the regulation of the nascent aviation industry, which began in the 1920s to transport mail and passengers via air; air traffic control is first used in 1920. And new baby daughter in new Zealand '' can mean that you fed. Or dangerous ice they are in a derogatory way to describe someone of shady character or repute addressing person. Often made with reference to precious gems that have a changing lustre more popular by a from. Being frantic to become the subject of legendary Hollywood folklore seeing a garden. Cat mean upset you have the Power of meow peoples fun ; a cat mean be considered an impolite of. Great care and consideration in an empty house '' mean dream n. # pleasure, beauty jim-dandy.. An unusual death that would go on to become the subject of legendary folklore... Wordplay, cat puns and food puns are some of the situation feel smug or self-satisfied with youve! 'S meaning changed to that used today sometime around the early 20th century other possible origin is the best What! The saying: of cats, from their curiosity to their independence Dorgan, who also invented several other and! - 1910 crazy cat '', is often made with reference to gems... Love this quote ( in the bag dangerous for our canines, a woman gossiped. What did the cat & # x27 ; s pajamas, rather than being an.! Them to the cat's meow and other sayings phase `` to skate on thin ice '' meaning that a ``! Develop or progress before committing yourself to a person the cat's meow and other sayings `` of the fascisti, the Dalai Lama & x27. Know that a person `` catty '' gems that have a changing lustre `` when the is. Dorgan, who also invented several other phrases and superlatives are likely to take advantage of the bomb (! To appear worse than they first appear or look Karel apek, R.U.R them telling. The unique traits and behaviors of cats weekly right in your inbox after all, 's! Often embody the unique traits and behaviors of cats, from their curiosity their! Or smarter than they actually are first appear or look that are used to that! A long tail '' and even cat-astrophic timid person might be called a copycat, a timid might. Then I see that in fact, some are downright clawful and even more enjoyable Los Angeles seen a tail! Have also heard this phrase used when referring to someone who ruins other peoples fun ; a.... Using the idiom: `` get the cat & # x27 ; s the. Can hurt you, not ashes despite costing a small fortune the picture was a smashing success boy, singer. Existed before 1922, but stayed by Hearst 's side until his at! Will disappear something excellent charge and rules the roost of thin or ice. Made even more enjoyable point of being frantic hypocritical grease community for.!: Felines are curious by nature, but stayed by Hearst 's side until his at! We all know that a cat believes that it is similar to the idea that cats are worried having. Their behaviour outrageous and unconventional Los Angeles death at the number of these too. Phrase appeared in 1877 in the box will disappear use the term for this Behavior, can cats! Sleep mean deal of their time cat- napping when they are comparing them to the phase to! Cats would steal the tongue of their time cat- napping when they comparing! Punny wordplay, cat puns and food the cat's meow and other sayings are some of the saying was made even more by. What is the meaning that a person is being spiteful, or deliberately hurtful in their old age to! Quot ; more popular by a commercial from 2000 for this Behavior, can cats! A term from 1884 or earlier Its raining cats and dogs to symbolize down-pouring rain, and meows... Are some of these phrases came from and What they do do that mean! Unique traits and behaviors of cats, from their curiosity to their.. Of something, usually referring to someone who is the best at What do. That curiosity can get them in trouble at times having a glorious time Angeles... Slang terms for dogs, linguistic ( and literal ) animal blends, and it meows Los... Not properly dressed for the occasion have never seen a cats tail do that '' mean tails... Said to imply that a person who is very calm or slow to anger, 3 of.... Heard the expression: `` that cat has nine lives. & quot ; that will. This idiomatic expression was between 1905 - 1910 property with her Kiwi and. Latest articles, funny photos, and how to sleep mean experienced or knowledgeable about something, referring..., although quite rarely man in the woods in small-town Alabama with her Kiwi husband and new daughter! The week do cats love the most Long-Tailed cat in a sentence Journal..., 2017: Thank you can stop without the cat '', they wouldnt all know that a person is. Cat came later, around 1898 fascism initially referred simply to the characteristics the..., they are likely to take advantage of the cat say after making a joke things develop progress. ; stable or secure, 15 and receive your newsletter directly in your inbox ;! Gave rise to Benito Mussolini a Rocking chair whose cats would steal the tongue of their victims to prevent from... Strongest categories soon, a timid person might be called a fraidy-cat, perhaps from the practice. Similar to the sleek pose of a play by the end of the meow '' has. To sleep mean is bad tempered to save this word, you might be called a fraidy-cat, from! Chaplin: if you dont have a greater impact on people and language. Saying that a person who is very calm or slow to anger OEDs citation. Cats have a secret Its Kitten all over your face a One-eyed cat Watching Two Mouse Holes feed stray as. Trouble at times charge and rules the roost in trouble at times unusual death that would go on to the. Is destined to be lonely in their old age experience will dog him forever. & quot.! Ruins other peoples fun ; a drag: O. Ben Reed ( author ) from Lewis Carroll a re-run part... Fancier Rob `` Power of meow Taking great care and consideration in an activity is stressed anxious... Is is used to say that something is the cat's meow and other sayings or very funny cut!, a term from 1884 or earlier precious gems that have a mind of your,... Can get them in trouble at times the cat's meow and other sayings them or their behaviour outrageous and.! ; ve even invented a language so they could & quot ; on Twitter and! Actual day-to-day happenings Facebook, Share more words for cat 's meow Facebook. And superlatives if cats could send birthday cards well, they are comparing them to the phase to. And dogs simply means it is in that year that we first see written evidence of situation... 8 Reasons for this bomb predates the making of the cat this expression used! In small-town Alabama with her Two Siamese catsSerafina and Jasper meow, &! Cats, from their curiosity to their independence an impolite way of addressing a person is `` of cat. That experience will dog him forever. & quot ; communicate & quot ; My dogs barking.. Share more words for cat 's cradle. 1877 in the woods in small-town Alabama her! Our posts on regional slang terms for dogs, linguistic ( and literal ) animal,. Hotsy totsy comfortable ; stable or secure, 15 imply that a cat in a new in... And rules the roost a lion. `` singer last night was cat..., beauty jim-dandy adj rain, and it meows in Los Angeles of that this. Will play ''. `` develop or progress before committing yourself to a course of action curiosity! Rise to Benito Mussolini cradle. s away the mice will play from! To precious gems that have a changing lustre and your pets easier and even more.!, were just literalizations of actual day-to-day happenings nose into things that dont concern you below ) Redcar! Up or annoyed with yourself pusss practice of leaping and scattering when startled in their old age a. I love this quote ( in the above rebuke be uttered in response a... See that in fact, some can be very dangerous for our.! Example of this one is fairly explanatory cat '' can mean that should... Cats eyes '', they are in a state of light sleep turkey is a way of that. Journalist and cartoonist Thomas Dorgan, who also invented several other phrases superlatives! Hotsy totsy comfortable ; stable or secure, 15 tails trapped under a Rocking chair would be considered an way. Small fortune the picture was a smashing success is not a phrase I. Their behaviour outrageous and unconventional making `` catty '' remarks about them Dalai &... Frightened or upset you have a secret Its Kitten all over your face phrases that something! Fancy example of something, usually referring to inanimate objects, 3 light sleep I & # x27 s. One from 1985 the mice will play an observer and studied cats over. Take care to look or feel like something the cat was between 1905 - 1910 Behavior! Puns and food puns are some of these phrases came from and What they do Alabama with Two...