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

References in periodicals archive ?

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 hits the fire
when the fat lady sings
when the gloves are off
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 smoke clears
when the smoke has cleared
when the spirit moves (one)
when the stars align
when the sun is over the yardarm
when the time is ripe
when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter
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
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when somebody was just a twinkle in their daddy's eye
when somebody was just a twinkle in their father's eye
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 a twinkle in their daddy's eye
when someone was a twinkle in their father's eye
when someone was just a twinkle in their daddy's eye
when someone was just a twinkle in their father's eye
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 hits the fire
when the fat lady sings
When the foundation fails
When The Freak
when the gloves are off
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 tough, the tough get going.
when the going gets tough, the tough gets going
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