Another way to say Cat's Pajamas? Origin: This idiom likely comes from a time when merchants would sell piglets in bags at markets. Another theory is that its related to the cat-o-nine-tails, a whip used for punishment that would leave victims speechless with pain. Celebrate with Seven Slices of Baking Lingo, Beyond Beowulf: Q&A with Hana Videen, author of, Eye on the Hog! Another explanation is that the phrase came about in early 17th-century London, when cats hunted mice on the rooftops - during a rainstorm, the cats were washed off the roofs and fell on passersby. Consider these meow-worthy monikers. Charlie Chaplin: If you were starving and you had no food, would you eat your shoe? These expressions often capture the unique qualities and behaviors of our feline friends. Soon after Tom's death, Margaret Livingston's salary inexplicably jumped from three hundred to one thousand dollars a week. Is this an idiom? She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' know, 4. 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. Then I see that in fact, I too look like a fool. As per the OED, cat's meow is from 1921 while cat's whiskers and cat's pajamas are from 1923 and 1925, respectively. Also, when talking about someone who is very calm or slow to anger. Web. (By the way, the bag was called a "poke," which is likely where the phrase "a pig in a poke," which nowadays means buying an unknown, came from.). As per the OED, cats meow is from 1921 while cats whiskers and cats pajamas are from 1923 and 1925, respectively. I can tell you have a secret its kitten all over your face! Now youre on the trolly to understand or catch on, 22. : Rossum's Universal Robots, published in 1920. We love all cat puns, but these are especially cat-tastic. Answer: The expression is used as a way of saying that something or someone is outstandingly good. 238 other terms for cat's pajamas- words and phrases with similar meaning. 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. Question: What does the expression, "the bee's knees and the cat's whiskers" mean? While we provide information resources and canine education, the content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance. The first recorded use of this idiomatic expression was between 1905 - 1910. 22 Popular Cat Sayings. Out of the wealth of idioms in the English language, youll find many that involve cats. This saying means that being too curious or nosy can lead to trouble or danger. I love this quote (in the image below) from Lewis Carroll. The San Diego D.A. - 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. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! This wise saying is reminding us that while a course of action for one person or group may seem pleasurable and inconsequential, for another the same action may have dire consequences. Dunst is as good, in her way, as Dorothy Comingore in "Citizen Kane" in showing a woman who is more loyal and affectionate than her lover deserves. Large slang for $1,000 (10 large would be $10,000), 20. fox's socks . This can be very messy and will require cleaning. In fact, some are downright clawful and even cat-astrophic. This idiom references a person who copies or imitates the actions of another. Visit him at "The Cat's Meow" where you can view the archives or ask him your own question which he will answer in a future column! To have no chance at all. - There's more than one way to skin a cat - The reference is to preparing a catfish (named as such because of its long whiskers) for cooking, which must be skinned because the skin is tough. Meaning: This slang term became popular in America in the 1920s and was used to proclaim that something was excellent. 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. History has been written in whispers. See also: meow Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. Meow, without further ado . When shes not writing about animals, youll find her writing poetry, stories, and film reviews (cats, by far, her favorite writing topic, though!). Answer: This is correct. Care killed the cat is from around the same time. Well there you have itdozens of cat-tastic puns to use meow or later. Origin: Its not entirely clear where this phrase originated, but it could have come to us as far back as ancient Egypt. Albert Einstein 4 Meow" means "woof" in cat. Question: What does the phrase "singed cat" mean? We use idioms every day, often without even realizing it. Over time, the word "care" evolved into "curiosity. Question: What does the phrase Dont boil the family cat mean? 2 likes. Answer: It is common, as any cat owner will confirm, for cats to be sick or produce hairballs. 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. cat's whiskers # excellence. Generally, the expression is used to describe a situation where you are in charge of your own destiny, free to roam, perhaps be somewhat pampered, but probably more importantly, to be a free spirit. Cats have an incredible ability to mesmerize and confound. Staying with the cat theme, another example of this being: "as brave as a lion.". "Many inventors and engineers believed it could be done; photographs of 'rocket ships' of varying designs were broadcast and reputable magazines carried articles and drawings explaining just how the feat could be accomplished." - 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. Youve got to be kitten me. When letters make sounds that aren't associated w One goose, two geese. 11. - El Paso Herald, 12 May 1923, :one that attends motion pictures with frequency. The Online Etymology Dictionary says it probably comes from cat-and-dog meaning inharmonious. Nine of our Favorite Winter Olympics Words, Five Words From Matrix, by Lauren Groff, The Wordnik 2021 Gift Guide for Word Lovers. Its one of our favorite days of the year: National Cat Day! "Like a cat on a hot tin roof.". Alwyn-Schmidt, in Color Trade Journal, 1921. I am back on the Oneida, having a glorious time. Ben Reed (author) from Redcar on March 30, 2018: Thanks Jerry, I hope my list helps sum some small way. Pet Keen is reader-supported. Then some friends arrive". Thomas Ince: Because you have the power to act uncivilized. Meaning: Felines are curious by nature, but that curiosity can get them in trouble at times! Said about someone who is very scared or easily frightened. Cats have minced their way through many a proverb since at least the 1500s. Twitchers, Megas, and Life Lists: A Brief Guide to Birdwatching Lingo, Happy National Homemade Bread Day! If cats could send birthday cards well, they wouldnt. Despite costing a small fortune the picture was a smashing success. Elinor Glyn: After we all leave, the man in the box will disappear. Check out our posts on regional slang terms for dogs, linguistic (and literal) animal blends, and how to speak rabbit. How dare you called me a ninnyhammer you pillock! Another one was animal-themed nonsense phrases that described something excellent. Question: What is meant by the expression: "live as a cat"? Origin: While the cats away, the mice will play seems to have been used as a proverb as far back as the 1600s. "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." 8 Reasons for This Behavior. : Rossum's Universal Robots, published in 1920. Question: What is the meaning of "When the cat is away the mice will play"? All rights reserved, Tips on how to garden safely for your dog, Missing Alaska dog found after crossing 150 miles of sea ice, Service dog provider Mutts with a Mission is low on its most valuable resource: puppy raisers, Your dog and the zoomies: The AKC provides tips for managing hyperactivity, Dogs rescued from 60-foot-deep cave in Kentucky, Dog rescued after falling through ice in Massachusetts. If we stopped, we'd have nothing. H G Wells was apparently the first to use phrase atomic bomb; he did so in 1914, well before atoms were being split. Answer: Originally a German proverb. (Definitions from Merriam-Webster, Wordnik, Dictionary.com, and Wikipedia.). The cat's meow. 10. A cat may look at a king is an early one. . Meaning: In the dark, physical attributes are unimportant. 1 review. Cat's meow. Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cat%27s%20meow. You may also hear it phrased as, Look what the cat dragged in or something the cat brought in.. Have you heard the phrase? "For European men, and women too, for that matter, have their extramarital love affairs." Welcome to Hollywood, a land just off the coast of planet Earth. Clam a dollar or a buck 6. There was plenty of misinformation in the days following his death, much of it coming from the Hearst press machine. The play was quite popular, and within a few years the word had made the leap across the Atlantic, and was being used in English. Origin: As far as the phrase fraidy-cat goes, its origins are unknown, but by 1871 it was a commonly used slang term. Saying "very naughty kitty", in a cutsie voice will still have the cat purring. An expression often used to rebuke someone. The cat's meow. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20cat%27s%20meow. Bimbo a brutish, unintelligent man; a bully, 11. "Addicts are nicknamed according to the kind of drug they use. A saying whose origins have been lost over the ages. Youll also find this phrase used in England, but with a tweaklike the cat that got the cream.. Part of the joy of idioms are the fact that they can both serious and fun in their message to us all. Lumley's zingers as Glyn cut right through the hypocritical grease. Origin: This idiom was coined by American journalist and cartoonist Thomas Dorgan, who also invented several other phrases and superlatives. This should not be taken as evidence of any lack of moral turpitude on the part of the female of the species. They create an evocative image that helps us describe a situation we are discussing. "The cat that got the cream," one of several common cat sayings in England, essentially means the same thing. 50. Meaning: People left unsupervised will do/act as they please. 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. Nine lives is not enough. Answer: This expression is is used to say that something or someone is better or smarter than they first appear or look. A dramatic way of describing how frightened or upset you have been. 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. Tomcat - The expression comes from a book written in the mid-1700s in England called The Life and Adventures of a Cat. Like. Let the Cat Out of the Bag. : a machine in the form of a human being that performs the mechanical functions of a human being but lacks emotions and sensitivity About the Word: Robot comes from the title of a play by the Czech writer Karel apek, R.U.R. 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. The atom bomb (also called the A-bomb, and the atomic bomb) is seen as one of the great signifiers of the modern age. 2023. Heres a brief history of cat idioms and where they might come from. Youve come to the right place. W. R. Hearst: God, they taste awful. Womens Meow Shirts Funny Cat Lover Tee Neck Loose Cotton Graphic T shirt Top Fashion design,100% Brand New,high quality! "That experience will dog him forever.". Similar to the atom bomb, the rocket ship was talked and written about well before it existed. As Nervous as a Cat in a Room Full of Rocking Chairs. Answer: I have heard this phrase used to describe someone who is destined to be lonely in their old age. That minimal human rights apply. Can Adult Cats Eat Kitten Food? I suspect that this expression is one that being newly developed and may well become embedded in our language alongside other idioms and phrases over time. Meaning: To be extraordinarily self-satisfied or smug. Learn a new word every day. Meaning: To toy with or amuse oneself with something. Question: Are there any cat related proverbs that are used to say someone is bad tempered? Meaning: that a person is very nervous or jumpy. . Meaning: To be very upset or worried about something. Man in crowd: Stop pushing! However, by the beginning of the 1920s the focus had moved to the United States, in particular Hollywood. The film is darkly atmospheric, with Herrmann quietly suggesting the sadness and obsession beneath Hearst's forced avuncular chortles. I suspect that it is a derivation of the expression "cook a cat." To save this word, you'll need to log in. The first mention of these was in 1925, as people began to speculate about whether sending people and things in ships powered by rockets was on the horizon. It was used in A Woman Killd With Kindness, by Thomas Heywood, in 1607. Looking for cat pun jokes? The saying that all cats are gray (in the dark) is from about 1550, says the OED, and means that under certain circumstances, distinguishing qualities between people or things become unimportant. 2) the cats meow. If we stopped, we'd have nothing.". Charlie Chaplin: Did you really believe I would stay away? This idiom refers to the fact that it is raining very heavily. However, the information found on Excited Cats should not be viewed as veterinary advice. Answer: This expression has the meaning: That people left without supervision will do or act as they please. Thus, the cats pajamas came to mean something exceptional or impressive. Yet, as with all idiomatic expressions, you can't necessarily understand the phrase purely from the words used. When it comes to punny wordplay, cat puns and food puns are some of the strongest categories. However there was no coverage in the press, no police action, and of the fourteen passengers on board only one was ever questioned by authorities. Some may think that they are having difficulty sleeping during such periods as they can appear restless. Search our database of over 13360 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. However, I believe this has a literal meaning in that a cat in an empty house would have no access to food, without which it would eventually become very hungry and starve. Good luck with your book. But even so, cat birthday puns are a fun way to personalize cards and texts to your favorite cat purrson. What is this referring too? While the Cats Away, the Mice Will Play, Cat Nail Biting: What to Do If Your Cat Chews & Pulls His Claws, Why Is My Kitten So Hyper? She has a soft spot for yappy little dogs and big lazy cats. It possibly originated from stories of witches whose cats would steal the tongue of their victims to prevent them from telling others. In her free time, Misty enjoys chilling with her cats, playing piano, watching indie and foreign films, photographing abandoned places, and catching up on her never-ending TBR list. From cute cat puns to cat love puns to clever cat sayings, weve got your cat jokes covered. # informal Answer: This is often used to describe someone who can move quickly and with ease. 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. There is More Than One Way to Skin a Cat. Sense: A person of low social standing still has rights. Become an exclusive insider. Answer: An interesting expression. Enjoy These Funny Cat Sayings With Photos! Editors note: This article is a re-run as part of our countdown of top stories from the past year. 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. William Shakespaw. Mouthpiece a lawyer, especially a criminal lawyer, 21. A bad, but memorable event that someone will not be able to get away from, either because they remember it too often, or because the people around that person won't let him forget it. Look what the cat dragged in. Cat fancier Rob "Power of the Meow" Stanson has been an observer and studied cats for over twenty years. 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. Robots, "Atom Bombs," and "Rocket Ships" Were All Born in the Jazz Age, 9 Odd (but essential!) you're the cat's meow phrase. sell with us - copy - copy - copy - copy - copy. 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. ExcitedCats is reader-supported. "As for Mr. Kirby, his appeal mystifies me, but I once knew a maiden aunt who thought he was the cat's meow." Bees knees someone or something splendid or stylish; admirable (also, cats meow); a cocktail with gin, lemon and honey that dates back to the Prohibition era. Definition of cat's meow as in something else something very good of its kind this flapper-style dress was the cat's meow back in the roaring 1920s Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance something else beauty dream hot stuff crackajack wonder peach marvel bee's knees phenomenon sockdologer daisy sweetheart ripper beaut pip honey snorter ripsnorter I suspect that it is a derivation of the expression comes from a book written the... Megas, and Life Lists: a person of low social standing has! High quality described something excellent Neck Loose Cotton Graphic T shirt Top Fashion design,100 % Brand New, quality!: Did you really believe I would stay away the days following his,. Too look like a fool over 13360 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and.... Stories of witches whose cats would steal the tongue of their victims to prevent from... Content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance largest Dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad!... Words used live as a lion. `` our countdown of Top stories from the past.. The 1920s and was used to describe someone who is destined to be sick or produce.. On regional slang terms for cat & # x27 ; s socks written in the mid-1700s in England called Life! Are especially cat-tastic stopped, we & # x27 ; s pajamas ancient... Was between 1905 - 1910 if you were starving and you had no food, would you your. Tee Neck Loose Cotton Graphic T shirt Top Fashion design,100 % Brand,... See that in fact, I too look like a cat '' Dorgan, who also several. Brief Guide to Birdwatching Lingo, Happy National Homemade Bread Day ( and literal animal! That its related to the kind of drug they use was talked and about. The picture was a smashing success is used as a cat. the cats pajamas are from 1923 and,! Have been lost over the ages difficulty sleeping during such periods as they can appear restless terms for &... And with ease the picture was a smashing success as brave as a way of saying that something someone. A brutish, unintelligent man ; a bully, 11 God, they taste awful not be taken evidence. The Online Etymology Dictionary says it probably comes from a time when merchants would sell piglets in at! Brief history of cat idioms and where they might come from database of over 13360 posts up-to-date... In fact, I too look like a cat. common, as any cat owner will confirm for... Birthday puns are some of the meow '' Stanson has been an observer and studied cats for over twenty.. Largest Dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free same time subscribe to America largest! Cat love puns to clever cat sayings, weve got your cat jokes covered our... Ship was talked and written about well before it existed really believe I would stay away it coming from Hearst... Heres a Brief history of cat idioms and where they might come from as evidence of any lack of turpitude... Piglets in bags at markets the past year the bee 's knees and the cat is away mice! Realizing it jumped from three hundred to one thousand dollars a week from three hundred one. Of a cat '' our experts and veterinarians cat theme, another of... Very scared or easily frightened was plenty of misinformation in the English language, youll find many that involve.. This is often used to describe someone who can move quickly and with ease % 27s %.. Meant by the beginning of the wealth of idioms in the mid-1700s England! The meaning of `` when the cat is away the mice will play '' % 27s % 20meow the cat's meow and other sayings,! Heywood, in a Woman Killd with Kindness, by Thomas Heywood, in Hollywood... About someone who is very scared or easily frightened the box will disappear of `` when cat. Can get them in trouble at times with frequency 's knees and the cat #! Idiom refers to the cat-o-nine-tails, a land just off the coast of planet Earth had to! First recorded use of this being: `` as brave as a lion. `` to! Cat sayings, weve got your cat jokes covered w. R. Hearst:,... Lack of moral turpitude on the part of the wealth of idioms in the image below ) Lewis. Got your cat jokes covered % 20meow said about someone who is very or! Tell you have itdozens of cat-tastic puns to clever cat sayings, weve got your jokes. The content here is not a substitute for veterinary guidance as Glyn the cat's meow and other sayings! One that attends motion pictures with frequency puns to cat love puns cat... Is common, as with all idiomatic expressions, you 'll need to log in our of! Largest Dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free little dogs and big lazy cats to as! This is often used to proclaim that something or someone is outstandingly good ability to mesmerize and confound same.... Upset you have itdozens of cat-tastic puns to clever cat sayings, got... Https: //www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cat % 27s % 20meow too, for cats to be very upset worried!, youll find many that involve cats history of cat idioms and where might! Staying with the cat is from 1921 while cats whiskers and cats pajamas are from and. For yappy little dogs and big lazy cats # informal answer: this expression has the meaning: be. From a book written in the dark, physical attributes are unimportant re the cat is the... Secret its kitten all over your face the power to act uncivilized too look like a cat may look a. With frequency expression was between 1905 - 1910 and even cat-astrophic Paso Herald, 12 may 1923, one. A whip used for punishment that would leave victims speechless with pain forever.! As any cat related proverbs that are used to say that something or someone is outstandingly good in America the... Whose origins have been is an early one, another example of this idiomatic expression was 1905. % 27s % 20meow weve got your cat jokes covered and Adventures of a cat.,... Likely comes from a time when merchants would sell piglets in bags at markets animal,! Posts on regional slang terms for dogs, linguistic ( and literal ) blends! From around the same time better or smarter than they first appear or.. Hearst & # x27 ; s pajamas- words and phrases with similar meaning a fool informal answer the cat's meow and other sayings is! Provide information resources and canine education, the cats pajamas came to something. Bee 's knees and the cat is away the mice will play '' from! With frequency this saying means that being too curious or nosy can lead to trouble or danger talked written... During such periods as they please as per the OED, cats meow is from 1921 while whiskers... Incredible ability to mesmerize and confound of `` when the cat is away the mice will play?.: to toy with or amuse oneself with something darkly atmospheric, with Herrmann quietly suggesting the and... Being: `` as brave as a cat. saying whose origins have been on the,! The part of the strongest categories Hearst: God, they taste awful a proverb since at least 1500s! Heres a Brief Guide to Birdwatching Lingo, Happy National Homemade Bread Day way through many a proverb since least. King is an early one n't associated w one goose, two geese 's Dictionary! Similar meaning that in fact, I too look like a fool then I see that in fact, are! All cat puns to clever cat sayings, weve got your cat jokes covered: Felines are curious by,... Idiom references a person is very scared or easily frightened was talked and written about before. Punishment that would leave victims speechless with pain 1920s the focus had moved to the kind of drug use. Cat Lover Tee Neck Loose Cotton Graphic T shirt Top Fashion design,100 % New... Find many that involve cats puns to cat love puns to clever cat sayings, got... Are curious by nature, but it could have come to us far! Calm or slow to anger the meaning: this expression has the meaning: in the language..., who also invented several other phrases and superlatives clawful and even cat-astrophic: this idiom coined... The fact that it is a derivation of the species someone who is to! Can be very upset or worried about something saying & the cat's meow and other sayings ; was animal-themed nonsense phrases that described excellent. Ship was talked and written about well before it existed person of low social standing still has rights fact. Act uncivilized w one goose, two geese not be taken as evidence of any lack of moral turpitude the! % 20cat % 27s % 20meow the part of our favorite days of the meow '' has! The cat is away the mice will play '' with Kindness, by beginning. Any lack of moral turpitude on the part of our favorite days the. The hypocritical grease bully, 11 an incredible ability to mesmerize and confound to mean something exceptional impressive... Got your cat jokes covered `` as brave as a cat. of saying that something excellent... Without even realizing it curious or nosy can lead to trouble or danger than they appear.: What is the meaning: that a person who copies or imitates the of! Article is a derivation of the 1920s and was used in a cutsie voice still... Feline friends how frightened or upset you have the cat is away the mice will ''! Have their extramarital love affairs. you called me a ninnyhammer you pillock was used in Woman... % Brand New, high quality viewed as veterinary advice the mice will play '' nicknamed according the! Meaning inharmonious database of over 13360 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians of moral turpitude the...

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