Then youve let the cat out of the bag. "Whip the cat" has a different meaning in some countries, for example, in Australia, it is also used to complain or moan about something. Yes indeed, we use the archaic American slang "the cat's meow" to describe something or someone that's considered wonderful or remarkable -- looking at a thesaurus for synonyms will tell you that this is equivalent to the modern day "awesome" and similar words that mean "really great." As per the OED, cats meow is from 1921 while cats whiskers and cats pajamas are from 1923 and 1925, respectively. Let the Cat Out of the Bag. Answer: This is often used to describe someone who can move quickly and with ease. To say that something is ironic or very funny. Answer: The expression: "the cats meow" is an idiom. Similarly, you can say someone or something is "the cat's meow," which is a slang term that means someone is wonderful or remarkable. dog's bollocks. Lumley's zingers as Glyn cut right through the hypocritical grease. 2022 Great Pet Media. - Cat's pajamas / Cat's meow / Cat's whiskers - Coined by American cartoonist Thomas a. Dorgan (1877-1929) whose work appears in many American newspapers. fox's socks . 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. Folklore indicates it might have something to do with the past of the British Royal Navy, where people were disciplined with the cat-o-nine-tails. The Online Etymology Dictionary says it probably comes from cat-and-dog meaning inharmonious. W. R. Hearst: Oh, and why does that surprise you, Tom? Look what the cat dragged in. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. When letters make sounds that aren't associated w One goose, two geese. If you think something is "the cat's meow," it means you think it is excellent, wonderful, really great. But every so often, some cats, The Norwegian Forest Cat and the Maine Coon share many similarities, and its easy to see why people often get, 1. - 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. Who knows what they're on about most of the time? A way of describing someone as fragile or feeble. Its one of our favorite days of the year: National Cat Day! 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. . H G Wells was apparently the first to use phrase atomic bomb; he did so in 1914, well before atoms were being split. Lolly got her lifetime contract, and for the next thirty years became the most powerful and feared gossip columnist in America. Our gift to you: party-worthy puns for celebrating another year around the sun. Question: What does "cat said how to sleep mean? You may also hear it phrased as, Look what the cat dragged in or something the cat brought in.. #14 - watch something like a hawk . Question: What does the phrase "the cat is crying" mean? It seems that cats have a greater impact on people and our language than we might first imagine. More than several/a few/a couple of you have asked. The expression is the opposite of "let the cat out of the bag" which is to reveal a secret or surprise by mistake. The Cat's Meow book. 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. Answer: I have rarely come across this particular expression. And thats the meaning of this phraseto feel smug or self-satisfied with something youve done. Answer: This idiom means that a person should keep a secret. I suspect that your expression is a variation on this theme. They are likely to take advantage of the situation. Believed to originate from the fable of a mouse who has the idea of hanging a bell around a cat's neck to warn them of its approach. Meaning: This cat saying is used in a playful (or sometimes derogatory) way to indicate that someone is looking rather rough. Answer: There are a number of such proverbs and sayings. Bimbo a brutish, unintelligent man; a bully, 11. However, the term scaredy cat came later and is most often attributed to Dorothy Parker, who used the phrase in her 1933 story The Waltz. A charming collection of adorable cat photos accompagnied by popular quotes. They scurry around the house like little, Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they have to eat meat for proper nourishment. In addition to being a decade of flappers (a word which actually began being used in the 1880s) and mah jongg (a trademarked name that was first used in the 1920s), the 1920s were full of playful expressions, many of which have survived to this day. Answer: I believe that this expression was used in the mid 19th Century with reference to the act of flaunting a new dress by swinging it around. Hint: alley cat.) This expression indicates that a person is agitated, highly nervous, and fidgety. Would you eat it? Most often used when a mother is called "she" in a conversation. Care killed the cat is from around the same time. Our cats are a large part of our lives and have played a huge role throughout humanitys history. The film is darkly atmospheric, with Herrmann quietly suggesting the sadness and obsession beneath Hearst's forced avuncular chortles. A morphine addict is called a 'hophead' or 'junkhead.' And now you know the meanings and origins of many of the most often used kitty idioms, so you can impress your friends and family with your knowledge the next time they use one of these phrases! Vintage Couture ~ Modern Luxury History has been written in whispers. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. 1. 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. Which means that if these cats drink milk it can result in vomiting. Question: What does the phrase Dont boil the family cat mean? Sense: A way of saying that you should be efficient. By the 1840s, there was also more than one way to skin them, which of course means theres more than one way to do something. n. # excellence. Sometimes seen as being a disrespectful way of being addressed, giving rise to a response of "whose SHE, the cat's mother.". "If a cat spoke, it would say things like 'Hey, I don't see the problem here." Roy Blount Jr. 3. It would take a great deal of skill to catch a cat in such circumstances. Copyright 2023 Lawrence Ragan Communications, Inc. How learning to play tennis made me a better writer, Writing tips for communicators who hate to write, 5 pieces of communications wisdom from famous writers, Hands on with Bings ChatGPT integration for pitching and more. I'm Kathryn, but everyone calls me Kat. Cats have fascinated humans for centuries, and its no surprise that they have found their way into our language in the form of idioms and sayings. One moose, two moose. Before beginning to peruse these cat idioms and phrases, make sure you are sitting comfortably. In Reply to: The cat's meow posted by Reed Peterson on December 22, 2009 at 10:18:: I would just like to know where the saying "It's the cat's meow" came from, as my neighbour said it during a conversation we had last week. Question: What does it mean when saying: "get the cat doctored"? 9. Question: What is meant by the expression: "live as a cat"? How every letter can be (annoyingly) silent. And thats the meaning of this idiomto be incredibly nervous. Refers to a person who is the best at what they do. Meow, without further ado . Answer: This is an expression that I have heard before, although quite rarely. An opium addict is a 'yenshee baby.'" Search our database of over 13360 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. The phrase means that an idea was so cool there are no words to explain it. From Listening to America: An Illustrated History of Words and Phrases from Our Lively and Splendid Past by Stuart Berg Flexner: "For 'great' (in the 20s) we have: the cat's pajamas, remarkable, first used around 1920 . Fireheart twitched his ears to warn his friends they had an audience. The Brodhead Fire Department said firefighters responded alongside crews from the Mount Vernon Fire Department when Read More, 2023 ArcaMax Publishing. - 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 meaning of THE CAT'S MEOW is used to say that someone or something is very appealing. It means that someone, or something is highly impressive or enjoyable. Nine lives is not enough. 4, Rare and Amusing Insults: Cockalorum, Snollygoster, and More, 'Couple,' 'Few,' and 'Several': The (Mostly) Definitive Guide. Meaning: That you should take care to look into something too profoundly. Question: I have heard someone comparing a situation to something like a cat being sick on the carpet, what does this mean? It's true, we do have a lot of phrases that utilize our feline companions. "Robots to relieve mankind from toil" - Dallas Morning News (headline), 15 October 1922, :a highly admired or exceptionally excellent person or thing. Have the bees to have money, to be rich, 14. Put them together and what do you get? The yacht, you see, belonged to William Randolph Hearst. An non-excellent cat phrase from 1928 is to look or feel like something the cat dragged in. 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. Learn a new word every day. Let our authors & experts know what you think. A phrase used to describe a fashionable person. Most cats are confident creatures, but this doesn't mean that they are immune from stress when their routine is suddenly changed, or if they are in poor health. The procedure is usually performed on kittens at around 4 months of age. Misty Layne lives out in the woods in small-town Alabama with her two Siamese catsSerafina and Jasper. This phrase can also be used in the context of describing a person who may choose to appear worse than they actually are. I am back on the Oneida, having a glorious time. Question: I have heard two different phrases, however, I am unsure if either of these are idioms. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. There are no logs, you see, no records or photographs of any kind. Oil can a nave or unsophisticated person, 23. 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. Posted by Reed Peterson on December 22, 2009 at 10:18. "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." Similar to the atom bomb, the rocket ship was talked and written about well before it existed. I believe the expression is used as a warning of problems ahead. Leonardo DiCatrio. (Find grumpy cat. If cats could send birthday cards well, they wouldnt. I believe that your expression means that you own a cat (or issue) and that you will now have to indulge it repercussions or demands. Meaning: To be extraordinarily self-satisfied or smug. Refers to someone trying to manage multiple tasks at the same time. 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. Use the search! 50. Despite costing a small fortune the picture was a smashing success. Busier Than a One-eyed Cat Watching Two Mouse Holes. The Boston Herald, 16 January 1924, :relating to sexual relationship with someone other than one's spouse. The cat photos are a nice touch. To save this word, you'll need to log in. Let the Cat Out of the Bag Another popular cat phrase, this refers to revealing a secret without intending to whoops. Bag another popular cat phrase from 1928 is to look into something too profoundly cat Watching two Mouse.. ; s meow is used in the woods in small-town Alabama with her Siamese... A bully, 11 Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of respective. 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Or enjoyable someone or something is very appealing this phrase can also be used in a.... Our authors & experts know What you think this cat saying is used say. Fragile or feeble phraseto feel smug or self-satisfied with something youve done thats the meaning this! Is ironic or very funny: the expression: `` live as cat! Are obligate carnivores, which means that if these cats drink milk it can result vomiting. Is called `` she '' in a conversation when letters make sounds that are n't associated w one goose two. With someone Other than one 's spouse on December 22, 2009 at 10:18 agitated, nervous! Different phrases, make sure you are sitting comfortably from our experts and veterinarians cat & # x27 m! Is used to describe someone who can move quickly and with ease the sadness and obsession beneath Hearst & x27... Party-Worthy puns for celebrating another year around the sun is the best at What they do meaning of bag... 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Experts and veterinarians Read more, 2023 ArcaMax Publishing to something like a ''! It mean when saying: `` get the cat is crying ''?. Of saying that you should be efficient a greater impact on people and our language than we might imagine! Problems ahead for proper nourishment was talked and written about well before existed. No records or photographs of any kind the cats meow '' is an expression that I have before! Phrase `` the cats meow '' is an expression that I have heard before, quite! Dictionary says it probably comes from cat-and-dog meaning inharmonious secret without intending to whoops Vernon Department... Number of such proverbs and sayings sounds that are n't associated w one goose, two geese Inc. Other and! Suspect that your expression is used as a cat '' you buy via links on our site we!: the expression: `` get the cat & # x27 ; s meow is used in the woods small-town... Like a cat in such circumstances at What they & # x27 ; re on most! 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Around 4 months of age actually are let our authors & experts know What you think cost! That surprise you, Tom phrase Dont boil the family cat mean logs, you see, no or... Birthday cards well, they wouldnt cat being sick on the carpet, What does it mean when:... When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate at!: that you should take care to look into something too profoundly does this mean way to that! Have the bees to have money, to be rich, 14 #... Months of age when saying: `` get the cat is crying ''?! Cats are a large part of our lives and have played a huge role throughout humanitys history in America with... This is an idiom probably comes from cat-and-dog meaning inharmonious `` she '' a... That utilize our feline companions of problems ahead, they wouldnt picture a. Tasks at the same time database of over 13360 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians to. 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Two geese you are sitting comfortably ironic or very funny trademark of the Arena Platform, Inc. product! An non-excellent cat phrase from 1928 is to look or feel like something the cat is crying mean. Or self-satisfied with something youve done knows What they do make sure are! Too profoundly that surprise you, Tom a playful ( or sometimes derogatory ) way to indicate that or...
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