cat Idioms
alley cat
- a stray cat
I began to feed the alley cat and now it comes to my house every day.
as conceited as a barber's cat
- very conceited, vain
My friend became as conceited as a barber's cat after she won the award at school.
as weak as a kitten
- weak, sickly
The girl is as weak as a kitten and cannot carry the pile of books.
cat gets one`s tongue
- one cannot speak because of shyness
The cat got the woman's tongue and she could not say anything at all.
a cat nap
- a short sleep taken during the day
I had a cat nap during the afternoon so that I would feel *******ed in the evening.
a cat on a hot tin roof
- full of lively activity
The boy was jumping around like a cat on a hot tin roof and we could not make him be quiet.
a copycat
- someone who copies another person`s work etc.
The boy is a copycat according to the other students in the class.
curiosity killed the cat
- being too nosy may lead a person into trouble
"You should not worry about what your friend is doing. Remember, curiosity killed the cat."
fight like cats and dogs
- to argue and fight with someone (usually used for people who know each other)
The two children were fighting like cats and dogs when we entered the room.
a fraidy-cat
- someone who is easily frightened (usually used by children)
The little boy called his friend a fraidy-cat because his friend would not climb the tree.
let the cat out of the bag
- to tell something that is supposed to be a secret
The teacher let the cat out of the bag when she began talking about the plans for the new school.
look like something the cat dragged in
- to look tired/worn out/dirty
I was very tired and I am sure that I looked like something the cat dragged in.
look like the cat that swallowed/ate the canary
- to look smug and self-satisfied, to look as if you have just had a great success
"You look like the cat that swallowed the canary. What happened?"
not enough room to swing a cat
- not very much space
There was not enough room to swing a cat in the small apartment.
play cat and mouse with (someone)
- to tease or fool someone, to change between different types of behavior when dealing with someone
The man is playing cat and mouse with his company about his plans to quit or not.
put the cat among the pigeons
- to cause trouble
Sending the bad supervisor to talk to the angry workers was like putting the cat among the pigeons.
rain cats and dogs
- to rain very hard
It has been raining cats and dogs all day.
rub (someone/someone's fur) the wrong way
- to irritate someone (just as you would irritate a dog or cat if you rub their fur the wrong way)
The woman who I work with rubs me the wrong way when I speak to her.
a scaredy-cat
- someone who is easily frightened (usually used by children)
The children called their friend a scaredy-cat because she would not go into the empty house.
there is more than one way to skin a cat
- there is more than one way to do something
I knew that there was more than one way to skin a cat so I did not worry about the rules and time limit of my project.
when the cat's away, the mice will play
- when you are not watching someone they may get into trouble
When the cat's away, the mice will play and when the teacher left the classroom the students began to move around.
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