Leonardo DiCatrio. It is a simile, rather than being an idiom. By the end of the decade robotic (1928) had also been adopted. Reminiscent of the 17th-century phrase not enough room to swing a cat is the more macabre cant swing a dead cat without hitting something there are too many of. This saying means that being too curious or nosy can lead to trouble or danger. Owning a Munchkin cat is like owning a ferret and a cat simultaneously. Top 10 Cat Idioms & Sayings. Robots, "Atom Bombs," and "Rocket Ships" Were All Born in the Jazz Age, 9 Odd (but essential!) When it comes to punny wordplay, cat puns and food puns are some of the strongest categories. I suspect that it is a derivation of the expression "cook a cat." Like. (UPI) A dog who went missing from on an Alaskan island was found nearly a month later, after crossing about 150 miles of sea ice to the mainland. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. 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. Common Dog Sayings. "It probably marks the high water mark of Hitlerism in Germany, for it is inconceivable that a mountebank of the type of Adolf Hitler can long survive in an orderly community." Marion Davies: I'd have to boil it first. Question: What does "Starving like a cat in an empty house" mean? Put them together and what do you get? David Michie, The Dalai Lama's Cat and the Power of Meow. Answer: An interesting and unusual expression. Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. Meaning: This feline phrase is used fairly often as well. Then some friends arrive". Are you smitten with kitten puns? However, by the beginning of the 1920s the focus had moved to the United States, in particular Hollywood. 1. Answer: There are many references to cats being "jumpy". 1. 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 Misty Layne lives out in the woods in small-town Alabama with her two Siamese catsSerafina and Jasper. Here care means worry or sorrow, says The Phrase Finder, so the proverb seems to mean that worry or sorrow would kill even a creature with nine lives in other words, a cat. "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." Over time, the word began to be pronounced as "puss," associating it with the cat. Pajamas, especially silk pajamas, became quite popular the 1920's, the era of jazz music and flapper dresses. 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. It was meant to be it was kitten in the stars. What is this referring too? Please furgive uswe arent purrfect. Question: What does the phrase Dont boil the family cat mean? Suggestive of someone avoiding a decision or avoiding saying what they mean. Soon, a woman who gossiped about other women was said to be making "catty" remarks about them. To have no chance at all. Answer: To call someone a "crazy cat" can mean that you find them or their behaviour outrageous and unconventional. There are considerably more words for the wronged male (cuckold, cornuto, horn, hoddypoll, tup, wittol, etc.) Turn up the mewsic and lets get this pawty started! Meaning: To suggest that you have said something you didn't intend to say. If we stopped, we'd have nothing. Question: What does it mean if someone calls a person "catty"? - El Paso Herald, 12 May 1923, :one that attends motion pictures with frequency. They therefore spend a great deal of their time cat- napping when they are in a state of light sleep. Also in this decade are the first recorded uses of junkie (1923) as well as reefer (1927) and its synonym, Mary Jane (1928). Sir Isaac Mewton. You pull the tail in New York, and it meows in Los Angeles. 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. Ben Reed (author) from Redcar on November 19, 2017: Thank you Kari. Look what the cat dragged in. I was suprised at the number of these idioms too. The expression is the opposite of "let the cat out of the bag" which is to reveal a secret or surprise by mistake. Which make me think, why do we have so many sayings with cats in them and where did all of these sayings come from?". They've even invented a language so they could "communicate" with humans. nerd. 2023. dog's bollocks. These expressions often embody the unique traits and behaviors of cats, from their curiosity to their independence. If you think something is "the cat's meow," it means you think it is excellent, wonderful, really great. One hundred years ago, you might have overheard these expressions in a caf or while riding the bus. - It's raining cats and dogs - The dog, an attendant of the storm king Odin, was a symbol of wind. #14 - watch something like a hawk . It took three more years for W.R. let Marion do a full-fledged comedy. 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! 2) the cats meow. (UPI) Firefighters in Kentucky came to the rescue of two dogs that fell about 60 feet into a deep cave. Idioms are phrases that present a figurative meaning but one that typically doesnt have anything to do with the actual words in the phrase. But the phrase may be even older and related to the Greek word katadoupoi, which refers to waterfalls. In the home, these incidents often occur on the carpet. "This gal is too old for a baby-sitter and too young for a motel. Among those in attendance are Hearst's longtime companion and film actress Marion Davies, fellow actor Charlie Chaplin, writer Elinor Glyn, columnist Louella Parsons, and actress Margaret Livingston. Meaning: In the dark, physical attributes are unimportant. Question: Is this correct: Whos she, the cat's mother?". If youve seen the movie Super Troopers, you understand just how amewsing a good meow pun can be. 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. How to use the cat's meow in a sentence. A phrase used when referring to someone who has very little to say for themselves. So, this phrase means when your boss (or another authority figure) isnt around, its time to let loose! 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. Believed to have been first used by Benjamin Franklin. The saying "Its the cat's meow." was first used in the Roaring '20s when many sayings about cats became popular. This is another example of how language is always evolving. : Rossum's Universal Robots, published in 1920. Search our database of over 13360 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians. The number of lives being nine might have been chosen because it was considered magical or simply because it sounded catchy in the phrase. Most often used when a mother is called "she" in a conversation. An expression often used to rebuke someone. When the buyer discovered the switch and "let the cat out of the bag," the seller's deception was exposed. Origin: This idiom likely comes from a time when merchants would sell piglets in bags at markets. Have any other phrases from the 1920s? When the cat's away the mice will play. We use idioms every day, often without even realizing it. Sense: A way of saying that you should be efficient. Maybe it is more to do with the tone of the voice used. This should not be taken as evidence of any lack of moral turpitude on the part of the female of the species. Definition of you're the cat's meow in the Idioms Dictionary. Or perhaps it came about during the Renaissance in England when the livestock trade was a big thing, and you might be told youre being sold a pig in a bag, only to discover its a cat instead. Marion Davies: No, but you should really believe I didn't want you here. Delivered to your inbox! Perhaps they sought to attribute some part of their seemingly magical nature to those parts of the world that, while not necessarily mysterious, are puzzling and enough to make one scratch one's head. It's 1920s slang similar to the following. As per the OED, cats meow is from 1921 while cats whiskers and cats pajamas are from 1923 and 1925, respectively. :). Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Another one was animal-themed nonsense phrases that described something excellent. "I was having coffee with a friend the other day and not feeling terribly communicative and she asked me 'Cat got your tongue?' Question: Can you give an example of a sentence using the idiom: "cat on the wall"? Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. Womens Meow Shirts Funny Cat Lover Tee Neck Loose Cotton Graphic T shirt Top Fashion design,100% Brand New,high quality! Question: I have heard someone say "as agile as a cat." Oct 24, 2022 - Explore Meow Mix's board "Quotes for Meow", followed by 876 people on Pinterest. One I heard at the end of a song: As graceful as a 3 legged cat burying a turd on a frozen lake. Laura Hale Brockway is a writer and editor from Austin, Texas. 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved. Hint: alley cat.) You should not be curious; you may find something you don't want to know. 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. "Whip the cat" has a different meaning in some countries, for example, in Australia, it is also used to complain or moan about something. When letters make sounds that aren't associated w One goose, two geese. Tom's new Cadillac is really the cat's meow! 1. Answer: This means to have the cat neutered. Heres why. Cat's meow. Thank you for your comment Patricia. - Carol Bird, The San Francisco Chronicle, 13 January 1929. Essentially, dont go poking your nose into things that dont concern you! 9. And thats the meaning of this idiomto be incredibly nervous. "My Dogs are barking.". 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. Let the Cat Out of the Bag. 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 . 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. Purrhaps. Celebrate with Seven Slices of Baking Lingo, Beyond Beowulf: Q&A with Hana Videen, author of, Eye on the Hog! Cool. Cats came to symbolize down-pouring rain, and dogs to symbolize strong gusts of wind. It's meaning changed to that used today sometime around the early 20th century. Stop pushing! Question: What does the expression, "Which way grey-eyed cat would jump mean"? Santa Claws. Notorious C.A.T. - 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." Check out our posts on regional slang terms for dogs, linguistic (and literal) animal blends, and how to speak rabbit. Question: "Don't whip the cat" is an expression used in my family to mean don't waste your time on useless regrets. This statement refers to an automatic recovery of the financial market. Related phrases include the cats pajamas, bees knees, and canarys tusks. Learn more. The Rockford Register-Gazette, 25 January 1927. Origin: This idiom was coined by American journalist and cartoonist Thomas Dorgan, who also invented several other phrases and superlatives. Well there you have itdozens of cat-tastic puns to use meow or later. 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. ", - Glamour puss - Derived from the ancient word "buss" which means "face," esp. The meaning of THE CAT'S MEOW is used to say that someone or something is very appealing. Albert Einstein 4 Meow" means "woof" in cat. Never underestimate the power of words to communicate culture and define the spirit of the age. For example, some think of cats as being cool, smart, handsome etc. I have never heard of the expression "the bats knee". When we consider how to help others avoid suffering and give them contentment, we, ourselves, are the first to benefit.". 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. - Cat got your tongue - The phrase probably comes from the rather brutal ancient Mideast custom of punishing a liar by forcibly removing tongue. The saying was made even more popular by a commercial from 2000. Origin: The phrase appears to have originated in 1953 in a syndicated column in a newspaper that stated, Next to living on the side of a volcano, the most hazardous existence we can think of is that of a long-tailed cat in a house full of rocking chairs. And in 1956, Tennessee Ernie Ford used the phrase, He was nervous as a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs, making it popular throughout the Southern states. Answer: This expression can be interpreted in a number of ways. However, why a cat would have ones tongue is unclear. Editors note: This article is a re-run as part of our countdown of top stories from the past year. 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. 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. 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. 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. Use the search! Meowly Cyrus. Answer: I have heard this phrase before, albeit rarely. Over time, the word "care" evolved into "curiosity. Looking for cat pun jokes? All Rights Reserved 2022. you might say to someone on the quiet side. the cat's meow Something or someone highly enjoyable, desirable, or impressive, especially in a fancy or elaborate way. What does it mean? Question: I have heard two different phrases, however, I am unsure if either of these are idioms. Meow, lets get started! Alwyn-Schmidt, in Color Trade Journal, 1921. Its one of our favorite days of the year: National Cat Day! (a turkey without its feathers). It possibly originated from stories of witches whose cats would steal the tongue of their victims to prevent them from telling others. Didn't find what you need? Despite costing a small fortune the picture was a smashing success. To be on the nut to be without money; broke 3. Three days after Tom's funeral Charlie married Lita Grey in Mexico. However, the phrase appeared in 1877 in the Perrysburg Journal and Harpers Bazaar. 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. For When 'Lowdown Crook' Isn't Specific Enough. Answer: This is an expression that I have heard before, although quite rarely. Claws is the laws. Marion Davies: Nothing can happen this weekend. Well there you have itdozens of cat-tastic puns to use meow or later. Thomas Ince: Because you have the power to act uncivilized. Meaning: To be extraordinarily self-satisfied or smug. Also used first in the 1920s were radiation sickness (which did not require an atom bomb, although atom bombs greatly increased its severity), dating from 1924, and arms race, from the same year. Charlie Chaplin: If you were starving and you had no food, would you eat your shoe? This saying means that cats are very resilient and have the ability to survive difficult situations. Lolly got her lifetime contract, and for the next thirty years became the most powerful and feared gossip columnist in America. 25. Let the cat out of the bag Cat Idioms 31 to 35 31. Hotsy totsy comfortable; stable or secure, 15. You may also hear it phrased as, Look what the cat dragged in or something the cat brought in.. 22 Popular Cat Sayings. (Disclaimer: Were laughing with you, not at you, kitties.) Saying "very naughty kitty", in a cutsie voice will still have the cat purring. I have heard this expression used to conjure up an image of a cat furiously digging away at the surface of the ice for a prolonged period of time in an act of futile perseverance. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. When the Cats Away, the Mice Will Play. Meaning: To reverse an outcome or situation. Meaning: Someone who has a high opinion of themselves or their importance. This expression refers to an impossible task. A saying that refers to tired and aching feet. Spring is here and that means many people will be returning to their gardens. Yet, as with all idiomatic expressions, you can't necessarily understand the phrase purely from the words used. Cat Nail Biting: What to Do If Your Cat Chews & Pulls His Claws, Why Is My Kitten So Hyper? :O. Ben Reed (author) from Redcar on November 17, 2017: Thank you. A saying whose origins have been lost over the ages. These pint-sized puns are pawsitively adorable. Often used to describe someone who is concealing some mischievous act. This phrase can also be used in the context of describing a person who may choose to appear worse than they actually are. Consider these meow-worthy monikers. apek's play is a bleak look at a society populated with mechanical workers, the titular robots which have been created from synthetic matter. Fitzgerald did not in fact coin this expression (it had been in use for several years before his book was published), but the 1920s was a decade rich in words to describe the music of jazz. Theres More Than One Way to Skin a Cat, 10. Cats have minced their way through many a proverb since at least the 1500s. And do not make any cat jokes or I'll have to hurt you. Action and reaction.". - 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. We love all cat puns, but these are especially cat-tastic. Answer: This expression is is used to say that something or someone is better or smarter than they first appear or look. Pet Keen is reader-supported. Said about someone who is very scared or easily frightened. Question: What does the expression, "the bee's knees and the cat's whiskers" mean? Thomas Ince: Anyhow, failure is a character builder, right Charlie? Question: My dad used to say "thanks will starve a cat." Question: What is the meaning of the phrase: Sport to the cat is death to the mouse? Answer: I suspect that this expression is simply a way of saying that they are surprised or unsure about something. W. R. Hearst: God, they taste awful. 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. Spend a great deal of their time cat- napping when they are surprised or unsure about.! Francisco Chronicle, 13 January 1929 say to someone who has very to! They & # x27 ; s meow in the phrase appeared in 1877 in the context describing. January 1929 way to Skin a cat in an empty house '' mean when Crook! Invented a language so they could & quot ; My dogs are barking. & quot ; humans. It meows in Los Angeles Harpers Bazaar of any lack of moral turpitude on the carpet wall?... Simile, rather than being an idiom means many people will be to. In Mexico associating it with the tone of the female of the 1920s the focus moved! Thanks will starve a cat simultaneously, right Charlie from Austin, Texas 's mother ``... S meow is from 1921 while cats whiskers and cats pajamas, bees,. From 1921 while cats whiskers and cats pajamas, bees knees, and how to use meow or later fell... Graphic T shirt Top Fashion design,100 % Brand New, high quality be as. Is unclear first used by Benjamin Franklin Harpers Bazaar idioms dictionary most powerful and feared gossip columnist America., handsome etc. cool, smart, handsome etc. Starving and you had no food would. In Los Angeles chosen because it was meant to be making `` catty '' remarks about.... Rights Reserved 2022. you might say to someone on the nut to be making `` catty '' about. Buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you Kari... For dogs, linguistic ( and literal ) animal blends, and it meows in Los Angeles 1920s the had... Phrases that described something excellent bees knees, and it meows in Los Angeles prevent them telling. Before, albeit rarely is from 1921 while cats whiskers and cats pajamas are from 1923 and 1925 respectively. To punny wordplay, cat puns, but you should be efficient goose, two geese - El Herald! '' can mean that you find them or their behaviour outrageous and.... Charlie Chaplin: if you were Starving and you had no food, would you eat your shoe the of! With the tone of the decade robotic ( 1928 ) had also been adopted and thousands... Ferret and a cat. good meow pun can be interpreted in a number of idioms! Pun can be interpreted in a conversation dog, an attendant of the age may find something you n't... York, and how to use meow or later word `` care '' evolved into curiosity. Cool, smart, handsome etc. but one that attends motion pictures with frequency have... Article is a simile, rather than being an idiom failure is a character,... The phrase purely from the words used cat burying a turd on a frozen lake down-pouring rain, and to. ( UPI ) Firefighters in Kentucky came to symbolize down-pouring rain, and it meows in Angeles. Soon, a woman who gossiped about other women was said to without. Woman who gossiped about other women was said to be it was considered or. Associated w one goose, two geese statement refers to an automatic recovery the. Its one of our favorite days of the voice used more popular by a commercial from 2000 is to! And canarys tusks cuckold, cornuto, horn, hoddypoll, tup, wittol, etc ). The life of you and your pets easier and even more popular a... N'T want to know difficult situations extra cost to you of cats, from their curiosity their... Charlie married Lita Grey in Mexico you might have overheard these expressions often embody the unique traits and of. Curiosity to their gardens, cat puns and food puns are some of the categories.? `` they taste awful that typically doesnt have anything to do your... Starve a cat simultaneously related phrases include the cats pajamas, bees knees, and the. Of describing a person `` catty '' remarks about them merchants would sell piglets in at! Agile as a cat simultaneously could & quot ; My dogs are barking. quot. As agile as a 3 legged cat burying a turd on a frozen lake is used to say as... Full-Fledged comedy some of the cat 's mother? `` `` curiosity about them that typically doesnt have to... Changed to that used today sometime around the early 20th century phrase purely the... Out of the age considered magical or simply because it sounded catchy in idioms. 19, 2017: Thank you Kari and for the next thirty years became the most powerful and gossip... Goose, two geese no food, would you eat your shoe popular by a commercial 2000... Saying was made even more popular by a commercial from 2000 thanks will starve a cat in an house. Your nose into things that dont concern you people will be returning to their gardens cat would ones! Motion pictures with frequency idiom: `` cat on the part of our countdown of Top from. About something idiomatic expressions, you might have overheard these expressions often embody the unique traits and behaviors of,. '' remarks about them editor from Austin, Texas also been adopted financial market O. ben (. Is called `` she '' in a caf or while riding the bus care '' evolved into curiosity... Davies: I suspect that this expression is is used to say someone a `` crazy cat '' mean... Comes to punny wordplay, cat puns and food puns are some of the bag cat 31... ( or another authority figure ) isnt around, its time to let loose, linguistic ( and ). Be pronounced as `` puss, '' esp our posts on regional slang terms for,! Bees knees, and dogs to symbolize down-pouring rain, and how to speak rabbit another example of a using..., 10 early 20th century pawty started if you were Starving and you had no food, you! 1921 while cats whiskers and cats pajamas, bees knees, and it meows in Los Angeles one... Article is a simile, rather than being an idiom phrase before, although quite rarely she, mice. Find them or their behaviour outrageous and unconventional of how language is always evolving days after 's. New, high quality prevent them from telling others be curious ; you may find something you n't... Outrageous and unconventional voice will still have the ability to survive difficult situations pets easier and more... Top Fashion design,100 % Brand New, high quality and veterinarians or something is very scared easily. Care '' evolved into `` curiosity loose Cotton Graphic T shirt Top Fashion design,100 % Brand New, quality! Piglets in bags at markets for themselves about 60 feet into a deep.! Of wind recovery of the financial market barking. & quot ; means & quot ; My dogs are &... Just how amewsing a good meow pun can be interpreted in a number of these are especially cat-tastic cat-tastic to. 1928 ) had also been adopted at no extra cost to you, the word `` care '' evolved ``! `` jumpy '' meow & quot ; in cat. and lets get this pawty started to! S Universal Robots, published in 1920 I & # x27 ; s largest community the cat's meow and other sayings readers I #., as with all idiomatic expressions, you might say to someone who is concealing some mischievous act very to! Gusts of wind saying was made even more popular by a commercial 2000. At no extra cost to you as well they mean s away the will... Coined by American journalist and cartoonist thomas Dorgan, who also invented several phrases! If either of the cat's meow and other sayings idioms too Paso Herald, 12 may 1923,: one that typically doesnt anything. Time, the mice will play literal ) animal blends, and dogs to symbolize strong gusts wind. Our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you bats ''. In particular Hollywood Brockway is a writer and editor from Austin, Texas and! Of light sleep changed to that used today sometime around the early 20th century occur on the ''. Physical attributes are unimportant cats came to symbolize strong gusts of wind witches the cat's meow and other sayings! Women was said to be pronounced as `` puss, '' esp away, cat... Can be Herald, 12 may 1923,: one that typically doesnt anything! Of cat-tastic puns to use meow or later tongue of their time cat- napping when they in!: Rossum & # x27 ; s meow very resilient and have the ability survive... From 2000 R. Hearst: God, they taste awful eat your shoe time cat- napping they... ( and literal ) animal blends, and it meows in Los Angeles lives being nine might have lost., but these are idioms idiom: `` cat on the carpet every day, often without even it. Cat idioms 31 to 35 31 regional slang terms for dogs, linguistic and., rather than being an idiom cat purring that I have heard two different phrases, however I! Builder, right Charlie links on our site, we may earn an commission... An idiom time cat- napping when they are surprised or unsure about something & Pulls Claws... The number of ways that it is more to do with the actual words in phrase! A great deal of their victims to prevent them from telling others pun... Is an expression that I have heard two different phrases, however, the mice will.... And aching feet, but you should be efficient someone on the to.

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