kitten

*weak as a baby and *weak as a kitten

Cliché [of someone] physically very weak.(Also: as ~.) Six weeks of illness left the athlete as weak as a baby. John is as weak as a kitten because he doesn't eat well.

See also: baby, weak

dust bunny and a dust kitten; a turkey's nest

Kg. a clump of dust and lint. She swept the dust bunnies out from under the bed. There's a huge dust kitten behind the chiffarobe. He hasn't cleaned in weeks. There are turkey's nests in every corner.

See also: bunny, dust

have kittens

to get extremely upset. My mother pretty near had kittens when she found out I got fired. Calm down. Don't have kittens.

See also: have

purr like a cat and purr like a kitten 

1. Fig. [for an engine] to run well and smoothly. My car really purred after I got it tuned up. New sparkplugs and this old heap will really purr like a cat.

2. Fig. [for a person] to be very pleased, and perhaps moan or purr with pleasure. She was so pleased that she purred like a cat. Sarah really purrs like a kitten when she is happy.

See also: cat, like

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a sex kitten  (old-fashioned)

a young woman who is sexually exciting or attractive

Usage notes: Some women think this phrase is offensive.

All she needs to do is untie her hair and remove her spectacles and she's transformed into a gorgeous sex kitten.

See also: sex

have kittens  (informal)

to become very worried or upset about something She nearly had kittens when I said I was going to buy a motorbike.

See also: have