all hat and no cattle

Full of talk that is more impressive than that which one actually possesses or is able to do. Primarily heard in US. He talks as though he knows more than anyone else, but he's all hat and no cattle. Over the years, her political rhetoric has become all hat and no cattle. She criticizes more than ever, but gets less and less done each year! That disgraced CEO is all hat and no cattle if he's saying he still has authority over the company.

See also: all, and, cattle, hat, no

be all hat and no cattle

To be full of talk that is more impressive than that which one actually possesses or is able to do. Primarily heard in US. He talks as though he knows more than anyone else, but he's all hat and no cattle. The senator's political rhetoric is all hat and no cattle anymore. She criticizes more than ever, but gets less and less done each year! That disgraced CEO is all hat and no cattle if he's saying he still has authority over the company.

See also: all, and, cattle, hat, no

be packed in like cattle

Of a large group or number of people, to be fit tightly into some enclosed space. The airline doesn't care if we're packed in like cattle, so long as they get our ticket fare. Sorry, I can't go the game with you—being packed in like cattle with tens of thousands of other people really triggers my claustrophobia. We were packed in like cattle on the floor at the Rolling Stones concert, but I didn't care—I had a blast!

big hat, no cattle

Full of talk that is more impressive than that which one actually possesses or is able to do. He talks as though he knows more than anyone else, but he's big hat, no cattle. Over the years, her political rhetoric has become big hat, no cattle. She criticizes more than ever, but gets less and less done each year! That disgraced CEO is big hat, no cattle if he's saying he still has authority over the company.

cattle call

A large audition (for film, television, theater, etc.) that is open to the public, meaning many people typically attend and are often seen very briefly. I spent days preparing for the audition, but it turns out it was just a cattle call and they ushered me out before I was even halfway done with the monologue. It's hard to make an impression when you show up for an audition and it's really a cattle call. Get used to the cattle call if you want to try to make it as an actor.

cattle market

1. A typically public place where one goes to find potential sexual partners. Almost always used in a negative way. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. Our college's student bar is such a cattle market on the weekends. It seems like everyone I know has hooked up with at least one person there. Everyone knows that the clubs on Leeson Street are just cattle markets for single people. Do you really think you're going to start a lasting relationship with a guy you meet at a cattle market? Please.

2. A place or situation in which people are gathered, displayed, and appraised for their looks or abilities, akin to cattle being valued in a market. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. These summer training camps are really just cattle markets for college football recruiters to find the most promising up-and-coming players. The restaurant is an oddity, a cattle market that only hires women for their large busts. Just from a mental health perspective alone, I worry about Jan getting involved in the cattle market that is modeling.

cattle-rustler

One who steals meat from supermarkets in order to resell it. Please tell me you didn't buy this meat from a cattle-rustler. Joe must be broke if he's stooped to being a cattle-rustler! You could get that meat cheaper from a cattle-rustler. And I just so happen to know a guy.

pack (someone) in like cattle

To manage to fit a lot of people into some space. The airline packs customers in like cattle to keep costs down, safety limits be damned. We were packed in like cattle, but we all managed to fit inside the tiny auditorium for the concert.

packed in like cattle

Fit tightly into some space, as of a large number of people. The airline doesn't care if we're packed in like cattle, so long as they get our ticket fare. My claustrophobia becomes a real problem when I have to navigate a stadium for a sporting event. Tens of thousands of people packed in like cattle—what a nightmare.

all hat and no cattle

AMERICAN, INFORMAL

If you describe someone as all hat and no cattle, you mean that they seem impressive or exciting but in reality they do not do much. On this issue, western leaders are all hat and no cattle. Note: This expression comes from the West of America, where cowboys (= people who look after cattle) wear large hats.

See also: all, and, cattle, hat, no

a cattle market

BRITISH, AMERICAN or

a meat market

AMERICAN, INFORMAL, RUDE

If you describe a situation as a cattle market or a meat market, you mean that people, usually women, are being judged or chosen depending on how sexually attractive they are. The parade of beautiful girls from every nation in the world was rightly dismissed as a cattle market. It's a meat market, like a lot of nightclubs. Note: You use this expression in a disapproving way.

be all hat and no cattle

tend to talk boastfully without acting on your words. US informal

See also: all, and, cattle, hat, no

cattle-rustler

n. a thief who steals meat from supermarkets for resale. (Underworld.) Marty is a cattle-rustler, and she’s got some stuff for sale.

big hat, no cattle

All talk and nothing to back it up. “Big hat” is the Western ten-gallon variety; the term is often applied to ranchers. On the theory that if you're going to wear one, you'd better be a cowboy and not just dress like one, you should be able to produce a head or more of livestock. If you couldn't, you were just full of hot air.