a cat on a hot tin roof

One who is anxious and unable to sit still or relax. A: "Why is Carrie pacing?" B: "She's waiting for the doctor to call with her test results, so she's been like a cat on a hot tin roof all day."

cat on a hot tin roof

A Southernism that meant someone who was on edge or nervous. The phrase survives as the title of Tennessee Williams's 1955 Pulitzer Prize–winning drama.

See also: cat, hot, on, roof, tin

See also:

cat on a hot tin roof
like a cat on a hot tin roof
be like a cat on a hot tin roof
be on edge
on pins and needles
on edge
het
be dragging (one's) feet
be dragging your feet
on the road to stardom

References in periodicals archive ?

TENNESSEE Williams's tour de force A Cat On A Hot Tin Roof will be performed at Theatr Gwynedd in the coming week.

Curtain Call: Deep South life in raw

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a calling card
a camel is a horse designed by a committee
a camel's nose (under the tent)
a camp follower
a can of corn
a can of whoop-ass
a can of worms
a candidate for a pair of wings
a capful of wind
a Captain Cook
a captain of industry
a carbon copy
a card up (one's) sleeve
a card-carrying member (of something)
a case in point
a case of (something)
a case of mistaken identity
a case of the blind leading the blind
a cash cow
a cash flow problem
a cat can look at a king
a cat has nine lives
a cat in gloves catches no mice
a cat may look at a king
a cat nap
a cat on a hot tin roof
a Catch 22
a catch to (something)
a catch to it
a catch-22 situation
a cattle market
a chain is no stronger than its weakest link
a chain is only as strong as its weakest link
a chance in a million
a change in (one's) stripes
a change is as good as a rest
a change of heart
a change of pace
a change of scene
a change of scenery
a change of tack
a chapter of accidents
a cheap shot
a cheap skate
a chicken and egg situation/problem
a chicken in every pot
a chicken-and-egg problem
a chicken-and-egg situation
a chill pill
a chill runs/goes down (one's) spine
a chill runs/goes down somebody's spine
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A carotis externa
a carriage and pair
a carrot and stick
a carrot-top
a carry-on
a case
A Case against the GO TO Statement
a case in point
a case of
a case of (something)
a case of mistaken identity
a case of the blind leading the blind
a cash cow
a cash flow problem
a cast iron stomach
A cast of the eye
a cast-iron stomach
a cast-off
a castoff
a castor oil artist
a castor-oil artist
a cat
a cat and dog life
a cat can look at a king
a cat has 9 lives
a cat has nine lives
a cat in gloves catches no mice
a cat in the pan
a cat may look at a king
a cat nap
a cat on a hot tin roof
a cat's paw
a cat's-paw
a cat-and-dog life
a cat-and-mouse game
a catbird seat
a catch
a Catch 22
a Catch 22 situation
a catch to
a catch to (something)
a catch to it
a catch-22
a catch-22 situation
a Catholic gap
a cats paw
a cats-paw
a catspaw
a cattle market
a cattle rustler
a cattle-rustler
a cattlerustler
a cauliflower ear
a cause célêbre
A Cause Des Garçons
a caveman
a celeb
A Celebration of Music
A cell
A cell
A cell
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