when the cat's away the mice will play

when the cat's away, the mice will play

When someone in authority is not present, those subordinate to that authority do whatever they want. A: "If I leave my classroom for even a moment, I come back to find the place in chaos." B: "When the cat's away, the mice will play."

when the cat’s aˈway the mice will ˈplay

(saying) people enjoy themselves more and behave with greater freedom when the person in charge of them is not there

See also: away, mice, play, will

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

See also:

when the cat's away
when the cat's away, the mice will play
walk all over
walk all over (someone)
walk all over somebody
lose (one's) hold over (someone or something)
responsible party
take charge
prophet
prophet is not without honor save in his own country

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THEY say that when the cat's away the mice will play.

HOT PEOPLE: Leave me al-Owen

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when it comes to something/to doing something
when it comes to the crunch
when it comes to the point
when it rains, it pours
when least expected
when life gives you lemons, make lemonade
when my ship comes in
when one door closes, another (one/door) opens
when one door shuts, another (one/door) opens
When one door shuts, another opens
when one is good and ready
when one's back is turned
when one's ship comes in
when pigs can fly
when pigs fly
when pigs have wings
when poverty comes in (at) the door, love flies out (of) the window
When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out of the window
when push comes to shove
when ship comes in
when someone's ship comes in
when the balloon goes up
when the band begins to play
when the cat's away
when the cat's away (the mice will play)
when the cat's away the mice will play
when the cat's away, the mice will play
when the chips are down
when the dust has settled
when the dust settles
when the eagle flies
when the fat lady sings
when the going gets rough
when the going gets tough
when the going gets tough, the tough get going
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
when the rubber hits the road
when the rubber meets the road
when the shit hits the fan
when the spirit moves (one)
when the time is ripe
when the US/UK/China, etc. sneezes, Japan/Germany, etc. catches cold
when the wolf comes in (at) the door, love creeps out (of) the window
when two Fridays come together
when two Sundays come together
when two Sundays meet
when you come (right) down to it
when you get a chance
when you get a minute
when you get a moment
when you get right down to it
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when ship comes in
When should we be back on board?
When should we be back on the bus?
When Skies Are Grey
when sneezes
when sneezes, catches a cold
when someone is least expecting it
when someone least expect it
when someone least expected it
when someone least expects it
when someone sneezes, someone catches a cold
when someone sneezes, someone else catches a cold
when someone was least expecting it
when someone's boat comes in
when someone's least expecting it
when someone's ship comes in
when something catches a cold, something else gets pneumonia
when something catches cold, something else gets pneumonia
when something sneezes, something catches a cold
when something sneezes, something else catches a cold
When Tekken Comes to Life
when the balloon goes up
when the balloon went up
when the band begins to play
When the Bough Breaks
when the cat is away
when the cat is away the mice will play
When the cat is away, the mice will play
When the Cat's Away
when the cat's away (the mice will play)
when the cat's away the mice will play
when the cat's away, the mice will play
when the cat's away, the mice will play
when the cat's away, the mice will play
when the cat's away, the mice will play
when the cat's away, the mice will play.
when the chips are down
when the chips are down
when the chips are down
when the chips are down
When the common law and statute law concur
when the cows come home
when the crunch comes
when the dust has finally settled
when the dust has settled
When the Dust Settles
When the Eagle Flies
when the fancy takes
when the fancy takes
when the fat hit the fire
when the fat lady sings
When the foundation fails
When The Freak
when the going gets rough
When the Going Gets Tough
when the going gets tough the tough get going
When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going
when the going gets weird, the weird turn pro
When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
When the law gives anything
When the law presumes the affirmative
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