cat in the meal-tub

obsolete A surprise attack or ambush; a hidden or unseen danger. Primarily heard in US. Many people want to legalize marijuana but are in denial of the cats in the meal-tub that may come with doing so. The young political candidate waited like a cat in a meal-tub for his rival's sordid history to come to public attention. Little did the soldiers know that there were cats in the meal-tub hiding up ahead.