67+ Cat Idioms, Phrases & Sayings With Meanings & Examples

Learn common cat idioms and sayings to enhance your language skills. We’ve let the cat out of the bag for you!

Cat's face

Idioms are phrases that have meanings different from their literal words. They help to illustrate points more vividly and can make communication more interesting and relatable. In English, idioms are used every day and they’re often influenced by animals.

One animal that has provided inspiration for a lot of idioms, phrases, and sayings is the cat.

Cat idioms and sayings represent a fun way to express emotions and behaviors in a colorful, relatable way. For example, when you say someone “has nine lives,” it means they’ve survived many challenges, not that they literally have multiple chances! Other sayings “like a cat on a hot tin roof” convey nervousness or anxiety, while “curiosity killed the cat” warns against excessive curiosity or probing.

Understanding and using these cat idioms allows you to compare human actions to feline traits, making your language sound more fluent. With that in mind, let’s stop pussyfooting around and get stuck into some popular cat idioms and sayings!

Cat Idioms and Sayings

Below, you’ll find popular cat idioms and sayings, with their meanings and examples of how to use them.

A Cat Has Nine Lives

Meaning: Cats are resilient and seem to survive dangerous situations, it’s like they have nine lives. You can also apply this phrase to a person who seems to survive many dangerous or difficult situations, often with luck or skill.
Example: Don’t worry too much about the fall — after all, he has nine lives!

A Cat in Gloves Catches No Mice

Meaning: Being too careful or gentle may prevent success.
Example: If you want results, be assertive — a cat in gloves catches no mice.

A Cat May Look at a King

Meaning: Even someone of lower status has rights.
Example: She spoke to the CEO confidently, believing that a cat may look at a king.

A Cat Nap

Meaning: A short, light sleep.
Example: I took a cat nap during lunch to recharge for the afternoon.

A Copycat

Meaning: Someone who imitates another person’s behavior.
Example: Stop being a copycat and come up with your own ideas!

A Fat Cat

Meaning: A wealthy and powerful person.
Example: The fat cats of the industry keep getting richer.

A Scaredy-Cat

Meaning: A person who is easily frightened.
Example: He won’t watch horror movies because he’s a scaredy-cat.

Alley Cat

Meaning: A stray or feral cat, sometimes referring to a person with a rough lifestyle.
Example: He grew up like an alley cat, surviving on his own.

As Conceited as a Barber’s Cat

Meaning: Extremely vain or self-important.
Example: She thinks she’s the best — she’s as conceited as a barber’s cat.

As Nervous as a Cat in a Room Full of Rocking Chairs

Meaning: Extremely anxious or jumpy.
Example: Before my speech, I was as nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

As Weak as a Kitten

Meaning: Very weak or feeble.
Example: After the flu, he felt as weak as a kitten.

Bell the Cat

Meaning: To take on a difficult or dangerous task.
Example: Someone has to bell the cat and tell the boss the truth.

Busier Than a One-Eyed Cat Watching Two Mouse Holes

Meaning: Extremely busy or overwhelmed.
Example: With two jobs and night school, she’s busier than a one-eyed cat watching two mouse holes.

Cat Burglar

Meaning: A thief who enters buildings stealthily.
Example: The cat burglar managed to escape unseen.

Catfight

Meaning: A quarrel between two women.
Example: There was a catfight over who got the last dress on sale.

Cat Got Your Tongue?

Meaning: Said when someone is unusually quiet.
Example: You’ve been silent — what’s wrong, cat got your tongue?

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

Meaning: Someone who is restless or anxious.
Example: Waiting for my test results made me feel like a cat on a hot tin roof.

Cat’s Cradle

Meaning: A complex or tangled situation; also a string game played between fingers.
Example: The legal case turned into a cat’s cradle of conflicting evidence.

Cat’s Meow

Meaning: Something excellent or fashionable.
Example: Her new dress is the cat’s meow!

Cat’s Pajamas

Meaning: Something outstanding or impressive.
Example: That new gadget is the cat’s pajamas!

Cat’s Paw

Meaning: Someone used as a tool by another person.
Example: He didn’t realize he was just a cat’s paw in their political game.

Cheshire Cat Grin

Meaning: A wide, mischievous smile.
Example: She had a Cheshire cat grin after hearing the good news.

Claw Your Way Out

Meaning: To escape from a difficult or desperate situation through great effort.
Example: He had to claw his way out of debt after losing his job.

Cool Cat

Meaning: A stylish, confident person.
Example: He’s a cool cat, always relaxed and in control.

Copycat Crime

Meaning: A crime that mimics another.
Example: The recent robbery was a copycat crime inspired by a movie.

Curiosity Killed the Cat

Meaning: Being too inquisitive can lead to trouble.
Example: Stop asking so many questions — curiosity killed the cat!

Dead Cat Bounce

Meaning: A temporary recovery in stock prices after a steep decline, followed by further losses.
Example: Don’t invest yet; this could just be a dead cat bounce.

Dig Your Claws In

Meaning: To hold onto something or someone stubbornly.
Example: He dug his claws in and refused to leave.

Dog and Cat Weather

Meaning: Unpredictable, stormy weather.
Example: The weather changed so suddenly — it’s like dog and cat weather out there.

Dog and Cat Life

Meaning: A relationship full of constant arguments.
Example: They have a dog and cat life, always arguing about something.

Fat Cat

Meaning: A wealthy or powerful person, often seen as self-serving.
Example: The fat cats of the industry don’t care about the average worker.

Fight Like Cats and Dogs

Meaning: To argue or fight intensely.
Example: My siblings fight like cats and dogs over the TV remote.

Game of Cat and Mouse

Meaning: A situation where one person is trying to outsmart another.
Example: The detective and the criminal were locked in a game of cat and mouse.

Get Your Claws Into Someone

Meaning: To control, influence, or manipulate someone, often in a possessive or harmful way.
Example: She got her claws into him, and now he does whatever she says.

Grin Like a Cheshire Cat

Meaning: To smile broadly.
Example: He was grinning like a Cheshire cat after winning the lottery.

Hang Onto Someone Like a Cat on a Hot Brick

Meaning: To hold onto something or someone in desperation.
Example: She clung to her old job like a cat on a hot brick, afraid of change.

Hellcat

Meaning: A fierce or bad-tempered woman.
Example: She may look sweet, but she’s a real hellcat when she’s angry.

It’s Raining Cats and Dogs

Meaning: It’s raining heavily.
Example: Take an umbrella — it’s raining cats and dogs outside!

Let the Cat Out of the Bag

Meaning: To reveal a secret.
Example: He let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.

Like a Cat on a Hot Brick

Meaning: Very restless or anxious.
Example: She was like a cat on a hot brick waiting for the results.

Like a Cat That Got the Cream

Meaning: Looking smug or self-satisfied.
Example: He walked in like a cat that got the cream after the promotion.

Like Herding Cats

Meaning: Extremely difficult to control or manage.
Example: Getting my coworkers to agree is like herding cats.

Like Herding Kittens

Meaning: Trying to control a chaotic group.
Example: Getting the kids ready for school is like herding kittens.

Live Like a Cat With Nine Lives

Meaning: To live recklessly and survive dangerous situations.
Example: He drives so fast — he lives like a cat with nine lives!

Look Like Something the Cat Coughed Up

Meaning: To look very messy, sick, or disheveled.
Example: After staying up all night, he looked like something the cat coughed up.

Look Like Something the Cat Dragged In

Meaning: To appear disheveled, tired, or unkempt.
Example: After the long trip, she looked like something the cat dragged in.

Looks Like the Cat That Got the Cream

Meaning: Someone who appears very self-satisfied or smug.
Example: After winning the competition, he looked like the cat that got the cream.

Looks Like the Cat That Swallowed the Canary

Meaning: Someone who looks guilty but pleased with themselves.
Example: She looked like the cat that swallowed the canary after sneaking the last cookie.

Look What the Cat Dragged In

Meaning: A playful way to greet someone who looks messy or unexpected.
Example: Well, look what the cat dragged in — where have you been?

Mad as a Cat in a Sack

Meaning: Extremely angry or frantic.
Example: When she found out, she was mad as a cat in a sack.

No Room to Swing a Cat

Meaning: A very small or cramped space.
Example: My apartment is so tiny, there’s no room to swing a cat.

Not Have a Cat in Hell’s Chance

Meaning: To have no chance of success.
Example: He doesn’t have a cat in hell’s chance of winning that race.

Play Cat and Mouse

Meaning: To tease or trick someone.
Example: The detective played cat and mouse with the suspect for weeks.

Purring Like a Cat

Meaning: Feeling happy, content, or smug.
Example: After closing the deal, he was purring like a cat.

Pussyfooting Around

Meaning: To act in a cautious or hesitant manner.
Example: Stop pussyfooting around and tell me the truth!

Put the Cat Among the Pigeons

Meaning: To cause trouble or controversy.
Example: Announcing layoffs put the cat among the pigeons at the office.

Rub Someone the Wrong Way

Meaning: To annoy or irritate someone.
Example: Her attitude rubs me the wrong way.

Scaredy-Cat

Meaning: A person who is overly fearful or timid.
Example: Don’t be such a scaredy-cat; it’s just a harmless spider.

Sharpen Your Claws

Meaning: To prepare for an argument, attack, or competition.
Example: The politicians were sharpening their claws before the debate.

Show Your Claws

Meaning: To reveal a more aggressive or hostile side.
Example: She seemed friendly at first, but she showed her claws when challenged.

Swing a Dead Cat

Meaning: A phrase suggesting that something is very common.
Example: In this city, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a coffee shop.

The Cat Is Out of the Bag

Meaning: The secret has been revealed.
Example: The cat is out of the bag about their engagement.

The Cat’s Meow

Meaning: Something or someone exceptional or impressive.
Example: Her new car is the cat’s meow; everyone’s talking about it.

The Cat’s Pajamas

Meaning: Something wonderful, stylish, or the best of its kind.
Example: This new gadget is the cat’s pajamas!

The Cat That Ate the Canary

Meaning: Someone who looks pleased with themselves.
Example: He looked like the cat that ate the canary after winning the bet.

There’s a Cat in Hell’s Chance

Meaning: Very little or no chance of success.
Example: There’s a cat in hell’s chance he’ll finish that project on time.

There’s More Than One Way to Skin a Cat

Meaning: There are multiple ways to accomplish something.
Example: If plan A fails, don’t worry — there’s more than one way to skin a cat.

To Have Kittens

Meaning: To be extremely anxious or upset.
Example: She was having kittens waiting for her exam results.

When the Cat’s Away, the Mice Will Play

Meaning: People will misbehave when authority is absent.
Example: The boss is on vacation, so the employees are slacking off — when the cat’s away, the mice will play.

What Next?

Mastered these cat idioms? If you’re new-found language skills have you purring like a cat, you might also like to check out:

James Prior

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