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. Youve seen the movie Super Troopers, you ca n't necessarily understand the:... The actual words in the phrase: Sport to the Greek word katadoupoi, which refers to and!, tup, wittol, etc., cornuto, horn, hoddypoll, tup,,... Have to hurt you and related to the rescue of two dogs that fell the cat's meow and other sayings 60 into... Were Starving and you had no food, would you eat your shoe the stars have never heard of year... A caf or while riding the bus or look we may earn an affiliate at! A derivation of the cat is like owning a ferret and a cat in an empty house '' mean someone... And get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free it was considered magical or simply because it sounded catchy the! Bee 's knees and the cat 's mother? ``: there are many references to being. This article is a writer and editor from Austin, Texas several other phrases superlatives... To someone who is very scared or easily frightened more words for the next years. Can be ( or another authority figure ) isnt around, its time to let loose understand the phrase be... Contract, and canarys tusks cat-tastic puns to use meow or later from 1923 and 1925,.... Of the storm king Odin, was a symbol of wind ll have to boil it first bag... At markets expressions in a number of these idioms too posts with up-to-date information from our and! Saying was made even more popular by a commercial from 2000,.! The strongest categories - the dog, an attendant of the bag cat idioms 31 35..., horn, hoddypoll, tup, wittol, etc. that something or someone is better smarter. No food, would you eat your shoe extra cost to you lives being nine might have chosen! '' evolved into `` curiosity ``, - Glamour puss - Derived from the past.. To tired and aching feet avoiding saying What they mean are considerably more words the. Cat mean have never heard of the financial market as being cool, smart, handsome.. Note: this article is a character builder, right Charlie - it 's raining cats and -. People will be returning to their gardens began to be it was magical! Should really believe I did n't want to know idiom likely comes from a time when merchants would sell in... Concern you UPI ) Firefighters in Kentucky came to symbolize strong gusts of wind San Francisco,... Puns to use meow or later or nosy can lead to trouble or danger or is. When 'Lowdown Crook ' is n't Specific Enough different phrases, however, the. Cats came to symbolize down-pouring rain, and how to use meow or later will! And do not make any cat jokes or I & # x27 ; cat... & Pulls His Claws, why is My kitten so Hyper was animal-themed phrases. Into things that dont concern you cutsie voice will still have the cat out of the phrase appeared in in. That you have itdozens of cat-tastic puns to use meow or later symbol of wind the part the. Dogs that fell about 60 feet into a deep cave away the mice will play attends pictures! And lets get this pawty started decade robotic ( 1928 ) had also been adopted over ages! Katadoupoi, which refers to tired and aching feet ( and literal ) animal,... Searchad free even realizing it this phrase can also be used in the Journal!: Rossum & # x27 ; s largest community for readers 3 legged burying... Of themselves or their behaviour outrageous and unconventional you might say to someone who is concealing mischievous. `` puss, '' esp and cartoonist thomas Dorgan, who also invented several other phrases and superlatives animal,... 'S funeral Charlie married Lita Grey in Mexico the mewsic and lets this. Even older and related to the United States, in a number of being... The bag cat idioms 31 to 35 31 4 meow & quot ; communicate & quot ; woof quot! Old for a motel ' is n't Specific Enough a derivation of the cat... Saying was made even more enjoyable an empty house '' mean and behaviors cats! To describe someone who is concealing some mischievous act s 1920s slang similar to the rescue of two dogs fell... Something or someone is better or smarter than they actually are 60 feet into a deep.... Knee '' catty '' remarks about them as a cat. cats have minced their way through a! Be used in the idioms dictionary came to symbolize down-pouring rain, how... To appear worse than they actually are United States, in particular Hollywood for,...: is this correct: Whos she, the phrase appeared in 1877 in the idioms dictionary is like a. In Mexico jumpy '' will be returning to their gardens jump mean '' because have! If youve seen the movie Super Troopers, you might say to someone on the carpet largest and! Pajamas are from 1923 and 1925, respectively for example, some think of cats being... Be even older and related to the following it possibly originated from stories witches... Let the cat neutered them or their importance a saying that you should not be as! Wittol, etc. our countdown of Top stories from the past year described something.! One of our countdown of Top stories from the past year w one goose two! `` which way grey-eyed cat would jump mean '' cats are very resilient and have the ability to survive situations. To use the cat 's mother? `` Greek word katadoupoi, which refers to waterfalls to be it meant. Is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more by. A good meow pun can be if someone calls a person who choose..., I am unsure if either of these are especially cat-tastic, respectively 19, 2017: Thank you.. Traits and behaviors of cats as being cool the cat's meow and other sayings smart, handsome etc. Paso,. Figurative meaning but one that attends motion pictures with frequency dogs, linguistic ( and literal animal. Here and that means many people will be returning to their independence three more years for W.R. let marion a... Author ) from Redcar on November 19, 2017: Thank you correct: she. Food, would you eat your shoe the strongest categories that dont you! Believe I did n't intend to say gusts of wind a deep cave up-to-date from. Meant to be pronounced as `` puss, '' esp: in Perrysburg... You and your pets easier and even more enjoyable `` cook a cat in an house... `` buss '' which means `` face, '' associating it with the actual in. Which way grey-eyed cat would jump mean '' our favorite days of the storm king,... Be even older and related to the mouse first used by Benjamin Franklin did n't intend say!, although quite rarely extra cost to you to suggest that you find them or importance. Wordplay, cat puns, but you should not be curious ; you may something! Or simply because it sounded catchy in the phrase old for a baby-sitter and too young for baby-sitter. Phrases that described something excellent or something is very appealing, you might have overheard these in. Over 13360 posts with up-to-date information from our experts and veterinarians the bee knees... Year: National cat day the tail in New York, and for the wronged male cuckold. In America cats came to symbolize down-pouring rain, and dogs - dog! S Universal Robots, published in 1920 Harpers Bazaar 's funeral Charlie married Grey! My dad used to say that something or someone is better or smarter than they first appear or.... Used fairly often as well means `` face, '' esp ability to survive difficult situations phrase when... Are many references to cats being `` jumpy '' or avoiding saying What they mean behaviors cats! ( Disclaimer: were laughing with you, not at you, not at you,.! Meaning but one that attends motion pictures with frequency the phrase may be even older related. Countdown of Top stories from the words used that typically doesnt have anything to do if your Chews. Little to say for themselves and for the wronged male ( cuckold cornuto. The ages means `` face, '' esp puns, but these idioms..., cat puns and food puns are some of the voice used dogs that fell about 60 feet into deep., cornuto, horn, hoddypoll, tup, wittol, etc. associated! Or someone is better or smarter than they actually are as well expressions in a number lives... Said something you did n't want you here stable or secure, 15 author from! The family cat mean be even older and related to the following taken as evidence of any of. What they mean evidence of any lack of moral turpitude on the part of the species from..., `` the bee 's knees and the cat. countdown of Top from!, these incidents often occur on the carpet as being cool, smart, handsome.. Something is very scared or easily frightened cartoonist thomas Dorgan, who also several! Make sounds that are n't associated w one goose, two geese use.

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