cat (redirected from catting)

be like a cat on a hot tin roof

to be nervous and unable to keep still. What's the matter with her? She's like a cat on a hot tin roof this morning.

See also: hot, like, roof, tin

be the cat's whiskers (British & Australian)

to be better than everyone else. I thought I was the cat's whiskers in my new dress.

See also: whisker

a cat and mouse game

play cat and mouse - to try to defeat someone by tricking them into making a mistake so that you have an advantage over them. It's just the latest manoeuvre in the eternal cat and mouse game between the police and drug runners.

See also: game, mouse

Curiosity killed the cat.

something that you say in order to warn someone not to ask too many questions about something. 'Why are you going away so suddenly?' 'Curiosity killed the cat.'

a fat cat (informal)

an impolite way of referring to someone who is very rich and powerful. He's just another fat cat - a corporate tycoon from Boston.

See also: fat

fat-cat (informal)

a fat cat - an impolite way of referring to someone who is very rich and powerful. There's a lot of resentment against fat-cat lawyers who've made huge amounts from the case. (always before noun)

fight like cat and dog (British & Australian, British & American)

to argue violently all the time. We get on very well as adults but as kids we fought like cat and dog.

See also: dog, fight, like

a grin like a Cheshire cat

a very wide smile. I just presumed he'd got the job because he walked in here with a grin like a Cheshire cat.

See also: grin, like

grin like a Cheshire cat

a grin like a Cheshire cat - a very wide smile. What have you got to look so happy about, walking round here grinning like a Cheshire cat? (usually in continuous tenses)

See also: grin, like

Has the cat got your tongue?

something that you say to someone when you are annoyed because they will not speak. Well, has the cat got your tongue? I'm waiting for an explanation.

See also: got, has, tongue

not have a cat in hell's chance (British)

to have no chance at all of achieving something. Thay haven't a cat in hell's chance of getting over the mountain in weather like this. (usually + of + doing something)

See also: chance

It's raining cats and dogs! (old-fashioned)

something that you say when it is raining very heavily. It's raining cats and dogs out there! It's a wonder any of the men can see what they're doing!

See also: dog, it's, rain

let the cat out of the bag

to tell people secret information, often without intending to. I was trying to keep the party a secret, but Jim went and let the cat out of the bag.

See also: bag, let

like the cat that got the cream (British & Australian, American)

if someone looks like the cat that got the cream, they annoy other people by looking very pleased with themselves because of something good that they have done. Of course Mark got a glowing report so he was sitting there grinning like the cat that got the cream.

See also: cream, got, like, that

look like something the cat brought/dragged in (informal)

if someone looks like something the cat brought in, they are very untidy and dirty. You can't possibly go to school like that - you look like something the cat dragged in!

See also: brought, drag, like, look, something

Look what the cat's dragged in! (informal)

an insulting way of saying that someone has just arrived, suggesting that they are ugly and badly dressed. Well, look what the cat's dragged in. Did you make that dress or borrow it from your mother?

See also: drag, look

play cat and mouse

to try to defeat someone by tricking them into making a mistake so that you have an advantage over them. The 32-year-old actress spent a large proportion of the week playing cat and mouse with the press. (often + with)

See also: mouse, play

put/set the cat among the pigeons (British & Australian)

to do or say something that causes trouble and makes a lot of people angry or worried. Tell them all they've got to work on Saturday. That should set the cat among the pigeons.

See also: among, pigeon, set

not room to swing a cat (informal)

if there is not room to swing a cat in a place, that place is very small. There isn't room to swing a cat in the third room, it's so tiny. Get a sofa in the living room? You'll be lucky - there isn't room to swing a cat in there.

See also: room, swing

a scaredy-cat (informal)

someone who is frightened when there is no reason to be. Go on you scaredy-cat, jump in.

see which way the cat jumps (Australian, informal)

to delay making a decision or doing something until you know what is going to happen or what other people are going to do. We'd better wait and see which way the cat jumps before we commit ourselves.

See also: jump, see, way

There's more than one way to skin a cat. (humorous)

something that you say which means that there are several possible ways of achieving something. It may be illegal for them to organise a strike, but they can still show the management how they feel. There's more than one way to skin a cat, you know.

See also: more, skin, way

When/While the cat's away (the mice will play).

something that you say which means when the person in authority is absent, people will not do what they should do. Do you think it's wise to leave the children alone for so long? You know, while the cat's away...

See also: away

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cat got your tongue

why are you not speaking. After she finished the story, I kept silent. “What's the matter, cat got your tongue?” she asked.

See also: got, tongue

let the cat out of the bag

to tell something that is a secret, often without intending to. Amazingly, not one of the people who knew about the surprise let the cat out of the bag.

See also: bag, let

play (a game of) cat and mouse

1. to repeatedly try to make someone react in a way that will cause them problems. Enemy warplanes have been playing a deadly game of cat and mouse, trying to bring American fighter planes into range of their missiles.

2. to try to find someone who is hiding from you. Border agents played cat and mouse with people trying to enter the country illegally.

Etymology: based on the way a cat plays with a mouse before killing it

See also: mouse, play

raining cats and dogs

to be raining in great amounts. It was raining cats and dogs by the time I got home.

See also: dog, rain