cattle

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, South Africa. He talks as though he knows more than anyone else, but he's all hat and no cattle.

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

cattle call

A large audition (for film, television, theater, etc.) that is open to the public, meaning many people typically attend and they 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.

See also: call, cattle

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.

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.

See also: cattle, market

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, South Africa. He talks as though he knows more than anyone else, but he's all hat and no cattle.

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

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.

See also: cattle, market

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.

See also: big, cattle, no