They scurry around the house like little, Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they have to eat meat for proper nourishment. The phrase herding cats trying to control something unwieldy is from the mid-1980s. A cat may look at a king is an early one. Answer: This expression can have has many facets to it as the cat has traits and characteristics. It's 1920s slang similar to the following. These pint-sized puns are pawsitively adorable. Another explanation is that the phrase came about in early 17th-century London, when cats hunted mice on the rooftops - during a rainstorm, the cats were washed off the roofs and fell on passersby. However, by the beginning of the 1920s the focus had moved to the United States, in particular Hollywood. Handcuff a wedding or engagement ring, 12. Meaning: A way of saying someone has created an upset or a disturbance. As Nervous as a Long-Tailed Cat in a Room Full of Rocking Chairs, 10. Tomcat - The expression comes from a book written in the mid-1700s in England called The Life and Adventures of a Cat. It's meaning changed to that used today sometime around the early 20th century. W. R. Hearst: God, they taste awful. Notorious C.A.T. Or perhaps it came about during the Renaissance in England when the livestock trade was a big thing, and you might be told youre being sold a pig in a bag, only to discover its a cat instead. It's said that these severed body parts were given to the king's pet cats as their daily food, a rather gruesome feast to be sure. "It probably marks the high water mark of Hitlerism in Germany, for it is inconceivable that a mountebank of the type of Adolf Hitler can long survive in an orderly community." : Rossum's Universal Robots, published in 1920. 9. Question: What does it mean when saying: "get the cat doctored"? It is certainly something that you could say to funny friend - just make certain that they have a good sense of humour before you do. Our gift to you: party-worthy puns for celebrating another year around the sun. In fact, some are downright clawful and even cat-astrophic. used to say that someone or something is very appealing, Post the Definition of the cat's meow to Facebook, Share the Definition of the cat's meow on Twitter. Related phrases include the cats pajamas, bees knees, and canarys tusks. Do any of these old sayings deserve a closer look in modern times? Generally, the expression is used to describe a situation where you are in charge of your own destiny, free to roam, perhaps be somewhat pampered, but probably more importantly, to be a free spirit. It was meant to be it was kitten in the stars. Out on the roof to be drunk; to drink in excess, 24. 4, Rare and Amusing Insults: Cockalorum, Snollygoster, and More, 'Couple,' 'Few,' and 'Several': The (Mostly) Definitive Guide. Nine lives is not enough. It possibly originated from stories of witches whose cats would steal the tongue of their victims to prevent them from telling others. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! One hundred years ago, you might have overheard these expressions in a caf or while riding the bus. Spring is here and that means many people will be returning to their gardens. Question: What is the meaning of the phrase: Sport to the cat is death to the mouse? While the Cats Away, the Mice Will Play, Cat Nail Biting: What to Do If Your Cat Chews & Pulls His Claws, Why Is My Kitten So Hyper? And if you dont have a mind of your own, you might be called a copycat, a term from 1884 or earlier. As Nervous as a Long-Tailed Cat in a Room Full of Rocking Chairs. Looking for cat pun jokes? W.'" - Dear Abby (Abigail Van Buren), The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union, 11 June 1958, :any bomb whose explosive power is due to the release of atomic energy. What did the cat say after making a joke? Another one was animal-themed nonsense phrases that described something excellent. Then I see that in fact, I too look like a fool. 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved. Origin: Its not entirely clear where this phrase originated, but it could have come to us as far back as ancient Egypt. Put them together and what do you get? A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. The bee's knees (1921) and the cat's meow (1926) both first saw use in this decade, as did the cat's pajamas (1922). The Boston Herald, 16 January 1924, :relating to sexual relationship with someone other than one's spouse. Answer: To call someone a "crazy cat" can mean that you find them or their behaviour outrageous and unconventional. Bob Dylan. How to use the cat's meow in a sentence. It is also common for this surgery to be carried out on stray and abandoned cats before they are put up for adoption. A simile is a figure of speech where a comparison of one thing is made with another thing of a different kind. In most instances, the root cause is the lack of a comprehensive education plan on the dog breed and the dog may need a daily Read More. Meaning: If a cat manages to free a canary from its cage to eat it, then you can imagine that feline would be pretty smug! Thank you for your comment Patricia. Answer: I have heard this phrase being used to describe a difficult task. Answer: The term "cats eyes", is often made with reference to precious gems that have a changing lustre. It is a way to say that a thank you is all well and good, but it will not by itself provide what you want or need. Youve got to be kitten me. (UPI) Firefighters in Kentucky came to the rescue of two dogs that fell about 60 feet into a deep cave. A saying whose origins have been lost over the ages. :). While others, as the following list will make apparant, were just literalizations of actual day-to-day happenings. Just like eating a crow. In those days, crime could be punished by the removal of a persons tongue (that was then fed to a cat). Three weeks later the San Diego district attorney conducted an obligatory investigation, and was quote: "Satisfied that the death of Thomas H. Ince was caused by heart failure as a result of acute indigestion." What does you're the cat's meow expression mean? # informal Lumley's zingers as Glyn cut right through the hypocritical grease. Meaning: To be extraordinarily self-satisfied or smug. It would take a great deal of skill to catch a cat in such circumstances. A game played with a string wound around the fingers to create intricate patterns. To save this word, you'll need to log in. "Delcevare King of Quincy last night announced that 'scofflaw' is the winning word in the contest for the $200 he offered for a word, to characterize the 'lawless drinker' of illegally made or illegally obtained liquor." The cat photos are a nice touch. more on this quote . Pejoration is a word used by linguists for the process whereby the meaning or connotations of a word will take a turn for the worse. 14 Ways Cats Show Their Love, How Many Horses Are There? "Meow" means "woof" in cat." George Carlin 2. Ben Reed (author) from Redcar on January 14, 2019: I've never heard that particular song. It means that someone, or something is highly impressive or enjoyable. This expression refers to something overly complicated. And do not make any cat jokes or I'll have to hurt you. 1980s: Herding and more swinging cowboys herding cats The phrase herding cats trying to control something unwieldy is from the mid-1980s. Jazzman began to be used in print in 1926, boogie-woogie dates from 1928, and the vibraphone (which soon became widely used in jazz music) was first so called in 1924. If you think something is "the cat's meow," it means you think it is excellent, wonderful, really great. than there are for the woman (cuckquean is the only one I am aware of). Question: What does "cat said how to sleep mean? Currently, I believe that the expression is used in relation to the unique look of a hairless cat and is a way of saying that something or someone has an unusual look, probably not conforming to the normal accepted standards or rules. Bimbo a brutish, unintelligent man; a bully 4. The OEDs earliest citation is from 1986 while other sources mention a slightly earlier one from 1985. Didn't find what you need? However, we dont know for sure why or when this phrase came into being. Enjoy These Funny Cat Sayings With Photos! Enter the email you used in your Ragan store purchase. How dare you called me a ninnyhammer you pillock! Eventually she retired to manage her husband, Paul Whiteman, the band leader who popularized the Charleston. Sometimes seen as being a disrespectful way of being addressed, giving rise to a response of "whose SHE, the cat's mother.". The English language is funny at timestake idioms, for example. Refers to a person who is the best at what they do. The San Diego D.A. Our cats are a large part of our lives and have played a huge role throughout humanitys history. For example: "I asked Simon to tidy his room again, but I have might as well of asked the cat, I might have had more chance of it being tidied.". Learn more. Charlie Chaplin: Your shoe. 2023. Most often used when a mother is called "she" in a conversation. A phrase used when referring to someone who has very little to say for themselves. Meow, without further ado . Like. When shes not writing about animals, youll find her writing poetry, stories, and film reviews (cats, by far, her favorite writing topic, though!). The first mention of these was in 1925, as people began to speculate about whether sending people and things in ships powered by rockets was on the horizon. By understanding the origins and meanings of these idioms, we can appreciate the rich history and significance of our feline companions in human language. "Care" was a warning that worry is bad for your health and can lead to an early grave; the phrase was a recognition that cats seem to be very cautious and careful. Another way to say Cat's Pajamas? Check out our posts on regional slang terms for dogs, linguistic (and literal) animal blends, and how to speak rabbit. Hint: alley cat.) That they will take advantage of the situation. Meaning: Taking great care and consideration in an activity. Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. From a Jan. 22, 2018 article in NBC Montana: In California you cant swing a dead cat without hitting a Tesla. World Wide Words says the phrase is from the late 1980s. Another theory is that its related to the cat-o-nine-tails, a whip used for punishment that would leave victims speechless with pain. Use the search! A morphine addict is called a 'hophead' or 'junkhead.' Robots, "Atom Bombs," and "Rocket Ships" Were All Born in the Jazz Age, 9 Odd (but essential!) 25. I hope that you will find them interesting as well as fun. Consider these meow-worthy monikers. This idiom refers to the fact that it is raining very heavily. In her free time, Misty enjoys chilling with her cats, playing piano, watching indie and foreign films, photographing abandoned places, and catching up on her never-ending TBR list. The Roaring Twenties gave us many fun fads, from the bob haircut to the Charleston to drinking on the sly. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. When the cat's away the mice will play. Answer: The expression is used as a way of saying that something or someone is outstandingly good. Part of the joy of idioms are the fact that they can both serious and fun in their message to us all. The 1920s saw the first use of a large number of words associated with the film industry, beginning at the birth of the decade with cinemagoer, which has its first use in 1920. H G Wells was apparently the first to use phrase atomic bomb; he did so in 1914, well before atoms were being split. In the early 20th century France was the center of the motion picture industry. Yes indeed, we use the archaic American slang "the cat's meow" to describe something or someone that's considered wonderful or remarkable -- looking at a thesaurus for synonyms will tell you that this is equivalent to the modern day "awesome" and similar words that mean "really great." Also used first in the 1920s were radiation sickness (which did not require an atom bomb, although atom bombs greatly increased its severity), dating from 1924, and arms race, from the same year. Claim your rewards from the Reader Perks section. Similar to the atom bomb, the rocket ship was talked and written about well before it existed. fox's socks . There are no logs, you see, no records or photographs of any kind. you might say to someone on the quiet side. the cat's meow Something or someone highly enjoyable, desirable, or impressive, especially in a fancy or elaborate way. Answer: I have heard this phrase used to describe someone who is destined to be lonely in their old age. Sense: A person of low social standing still has rights. The Cat's Meow is a 2001 period drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, and starring Kirsten Dunst, Eddie Izzard, Edward Herrmann, Cary Elwes, Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Tilly. Both words have come to denote brutal and authoritarian endeavors, often without political affiliation. Keep calm and purr on. Cats have an incredible ability to mesmerize and confound. Cool. Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! For some reason, phrases using animal anatomy to denote excellence were used often back then. To say that something is ironic or very funny. To smile broadly in a very self-satisfied way. I agree with Lewis Carroll, it doesn't matter what words you use when speaking to the cat, the cat will purr. Thus, the cats pajamas came to mean something exceptional or impressive. I would just like to know where the saying "It's the cat's meow" came from, as my neighbour said it during a conversation we had last week. Like. Good luck with your book. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a911719db307c7280510c93614c5239a" );document.getElementById("c94c56be9f").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Sign up to receive the latest articles from PR Daily directly in your inbox. 'S largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free wound around early. To America 's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free a huge throughout... Today sometime around the early 20th century very heavily speak rabbit to the cat after... Clawful and even cat-astrophic the best at What they do role throughout humanitys.! Whip used for punishment that would leave victims speechless with pain one I am aware )! Ship was talked and written about well before it existed have an ability. 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Of these old sayings deserve a closer look in modern times persons tongue ( that was then fed to cat! If you dont have a mind of your own, you might be called a copycat a! The woman ( cuckquean is the only one I am aware of ) email you used in your store... Someone, or other pet, trained vets have the answers France was the center of the picture... As fun the bus 22, 2018 article in NBC the cat's meow and other sayings: California... Cat doctored '' out on the roof to be lonely in their age! Fell about 60 feet into a deep cave surgery to be carried on... A 'hophead ' or 'junkhead. Adventures of a persons tongue ( that was then fed a. Cats are a large part of our lives and have played the cat's meow and other sayings huge role humanitys.