But every so often, some cats, The Norwegian Forest Cat and the Maine Coon share many similarities, and its easy to see why people often get, 1. Cat fancier Rob "Power of the Meow" Stanson has been an observer and studied cats for over twenty years. Origin: Its not entirely clear where this phrase originated, but it could have come to us as far back as ancient Egypt. Meaning: In the dark, physical attributes are unimportant. In fact, some are downright clawful and even cat-astrophic. cat's meow # excellence. A simile is a figure of speech where a comparison of one thing is made with another thing of a different kind. It means to beware of thin or dangerous ice. The 1920s also saw the birth of gas station (1925), license plate (1924), and driver's license (1926). You can also use the term "the cat's pajamas," which. It means that someone, or something is highly impressive or enjoyable. An example sentence being: "I have repeatedly asked John to decide on when we should finally get that garage roof repaired, but he simply won't make a decision, he is like a cat on the wall.". The meaning of THE CAT'S MEOW is used to say that someone or something is very appealing. Answer: The expression: "the cats meow" is an idiom. Elinor Glyn: [in the car leaving the dock in San Diego] I am not here. However, they are in fact rather special, as they are sensory and help the cat navigate its way around. How every letter can be (annoyingly) silent. Answer: This means to have the cat neutered. (US & Worldwide Statistics in 2023), 13 Types of Angelfish for Freshwater Aquariums (With Pictures), How Many Babies Do Hamsters Have In A Litter? Mouthpiece a lawyer, especially a criminal lawyer, 21. I have heard this expression used to conjure up an image of a cat furiously digging away at the surface of the ice for a prolonged period of time in an act of futile perseverance. 18 Apr. Mandy Iworrigan, who lives in Gambell on St. Lawrence Island, said she and Read More, VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. -- Doug Mondas hands trembled as he helped place a red, white and blue service dog vest on Ash, a yellow Labrador retriever. Question: What is the meaning of the saying: of cats? Meaning: To suggest that you have said something you didn't intend to say. Then some friends arrive". 2023. The Roaring Twenties gave us many fun fads, from the bob haircut to the Charleston to drinking on the sly. To state that a person is a little shabby or not properly dressed for the occasion. The sayings are: 1) the bats knee. This expression indicates that a person is agitated, highly nervous, and fidgety. Then youve let the cat out of the bag. The saying that all cats are gray (in the dark) is from about 1550, says the OED, and means that under certain circumstances, distinguishing qualities between people or things become unimportant. Cat's meow. Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cat%27s%20meow. The wireless is the same, only without the cat. "Like a cat on a hot tin roof.". 2 likes. The cokehead likely existed before 1922, but it is in that year that we first see written evidence of the word. The Rockford Register-Republic, 12 September 1966, :the extreme nationalistic doctrines of the German National Socialist party under the leadership of Adolf Hitler, from about 1930. Question: What does "don't let the cat out of the bag" mean? It possibly originated from stories of witches whose cats would steal the tongue of their victims to prevent them from telling others. 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. Answer: This expression has the meaning: That people left without supervision will do or act as they please. Question: What does - Its your cat and now you'll have to wool it mean? Common Dog Sayings. Yet, as with all idiomatic expressions, you can't necessarily understand the phrase purely from the words used. I hope that you will find them interesting as well as fun. With the right catitude, anything is pawsible. Web. It would take a great deal of skill to catch a cat in such circumstances. Notorious C.A.T. Read more of her posts onPR Dailyand atimpertinentremarks.com. "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." 2023. I have also heard this phrase used to describe a person who is somewhat vain, or boasting in nature, often putting on airs and graces in an attempt to be considered of a finer status than they really are. The Online Etymology Dictionary says it probably comes from cat-and-dog meaning inharmonious. What You Need to Know! When we consider how to help others avoid suffering and give them contentment, we, ourselves, are the first to benefit.". Question: What does the phrase "the cat is crying" mean? Can we call a funny friend a crazy cat? 10. Spring is here and that means many people will be returning to their gardens. Womens Meow Shirts Funny Cat Lover Tee Neck Loose Cotton Graphic T shirt Top Fashion design,100% Brand New,high quality! "Meow" means "woof" in cat." George Carlin 2. We all know that a cat believes that it is in charge and rules the roost. These 10 cat idioms and sayings offer a glimpse into the many ways that felines have influenced our language and culture. The origins of this idiomatic saying remain unclear. This might seem a little odd - after all, at first glance cat's whiskers seem fairly ordinary. Which make me think, why do we have so many sayings with cats in them and where did all of these sayings come from?". Kari Poulsen from Ohio on November 18, 2017: That's wonderful, Ben! And now you know the meanings and origins of many of the most often used kitty idioms, so you can impress your friends and family with your knowledge the next time they use one of these phrases! It suggests that a person will end their days with only a hoard of cats for companionship. References the actions of a stray cat that hangs around streets and alleyways of a town or city and refers to a person of loose morals. It was used in A Woman Killd With Kindness, by Thomas Heywood, in 1607. Cats have an incredible ability to mesmerize and confound. An example would be when a person says to themselves "Oh, cook a cat!". The procedure is usually performed on kittens at around 4 months of age. What does you're the cat's meow expression 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. 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. 2) the cats meow. 38. Soon after Tom's death, Margaret Livingston's salary inexplicably jumped from three hundred to one thousand dollars a week. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, this phrase is attested from 1760 and probably comes from the French expression acheter chat en poche, buy a cat in a bag. This is in contrast with the saying buy a pig in a poke, that is to buy something without looking at it or knowing its true value. The term woolgathering is sometimes used to describe someone who engages in idol fancies. So to let the cat out of the bag is to reveal the hidden truth of a matter one is attempting to pass off as something better or different.. Not only do we think kitties are just purrfect, we also love those whiskery words and feline phrases. Want more animal words and phrases? Origins: Yet again, this is an idiom where the exact origins remain unknown. Care killed the cat is from around the same time. Most cats are confident creatures, but this doesn't mean that they are immune from stress when their routine is suddenly changed, or if they are in poor health. nerd. Also in this decade are the first recorded uses of junkie (1923) as well as reefer (1927) and its synonym, Mary Jane (1928). Meow, without further ado . However, I believe that it may be related to the fact that cats are "crepuscular" in that that they are most active during twilight hours and dusk. The term pajamas was likely used because it was considered an exotic and fashionable garment during that era. In 2020, the words pandemic, lockdown, COVID, remote, anti-masker, unprecedented and unmute were all chosen as meaningful terms or as word[s] of the year., To further explore how words can capture and transmit the ideas and beliefs of the time, lets take a look at the 1920s in words. 8 Reasons for This Behavior, Can Adult Cats Eat Kitten Food? Learn a new word every day. Answer: I have heard this phrase being used to describe a difficult task. By the end of the decade robotic (1928) had also been adopted. # informal nifty adj. Curiosity killed the cat was among the phrases found in the 1873 book A handbook of proverbs: English, Scottish, Irish, American, Shakespearean, and scriptural; and family mottoes and appears to have been coined by the Irish. These pint-sized puns are pawsitively adorable. - The cat's out of the bag - In medieval England, piglets were sold in the open marketplace. Meaning: To reverse an outcome or situation. What does it mean? William Shakespaw. Clam a dollar or a buck 6. Sometimes seen as being a disrespectful way of being addressed, giving rise to a response of "whose SHE, the cat's mother.". When Monda was done, Ash attentively sat at his feet, leaning slightly Read More, Many pet owners are familiar with their dogs hyperactivity, also known as the zoomies. Question: What does the expression, "the bee's knees and the cat's whiskers" mean? These expressions often capture the unique qualities and behaviors of our feline friends. As Nervous as a Long-Tailed Cat in a Room Full of Rocking Chairs. You're the cat's meow! A bad, but memorable event that someone will not be able to get away from, either because they remember it too often, or because the people around that person won't let him forget it. Question: What is meant by the expression: "live as a cat"? 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. Among those in attendance are Hearst's longtime companion and film actress Marion Davies, fellow actor Charlie Chaplin, writer Elinor Glyn, columnist Louella Parsons, and actress Margaret Livingston. The saying was made even more popular by a commercial from 2000. These expressions often embody the unique traits and behaviors of cats, from their curiosity to their independence. Origin: The origin of this phrase is unclear, but there are some theories. Meaning: To toy with or amuse oneself with something. "Cats are a mysterious kind of folk." Sir Walter Scott "It is better to feed one cat than many mice." - author unknown (Norwegian proverb) "If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve the man but deteriorate the cat." - Mark Twain "The cat is the only animal which accepts the comforts but rejects the bondage of domesticity." It's 1920s slang similar to the following. A good example being "like a bag of cats.". When letters make sounds that aren't associated w One goose, two geese. There are considerably more words for the wronged male (cuckold, cornuto, horn, hoddypoll, tup, wittol, etc.) History has been written in whispers. W. R. Hearst: Oh, and why does that surprise you, Tom? 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. Question: I have heard two different phrases, however, I am unsure if either of these are idioms. . However, the phrase might also only date to 19th century England and the United States, when the phrase was used on children who had gotten in trouble and wouldnt answer questions. "This gal is too old for a baby-sitter and too young for a motel. Never underestimate the power of words to communicate culture and define the spirit of the age. There is More Than One Way to Skin a Cat. Often used to describe someone who is concealing some mischievous act. Also, when talking about someone who is very calm or slow to anger. A saying that refers to tired and aching feet. George Carlin 4 Two Windclan apprentices were wandering toward them. A phrase often used in a slightly derogatory or playful way. At Excited Cats, we regularly consult with licensed veterinarians and other industry experts. Meaning: This slang term became popular in America in the 1920s and was used to proclaim that something was excellent. Because cats are known for hunting mice, it makes sense that if a cat is away, the mice will come out of hiding. Very cute. To bell the cat, meaning to take on a perilous task on behalf of a group, may come from a late 14th century fable about mice belling a cat, says the Online Etymology Dictionary. She retired in 1937, but stayed by Hearst's side until his death at the age of 88. Robot comes from the title of a play by the Czech writer Karel apek, R.U.R. A derogatory term describes a person who has acted dishonorably to achieve wealth. The yacht, you see, belonged to William Randolph Hearst. Fireheart twitched his ears to warn his friends they had an audience. Meaning: That something is very, very funny. One hundred years ago, you might have overheard these expressions in a caf or while riding the bus. Question: I have heard the expression: "That cat has a long tail". Staying with the cat theme, another example of this being: "as brave as a lion.". One addicted to cocaine is called a 'cokehead,' 'coke,' 'snowbird,' 'sniffer.' Before beginning to peruse these cat idioms and phrases, make sure you are sitting comfortably. The term jazz age - often said to have been coined by F. Scott Fitzgerald (from the title of his 1922 work Tales of the Jazz Age) - is used to describe the period between the end of the First World War and the crash of the stock market in 1929. All rights reserved, Tips on how to garden safely for your dog, Missing Alaska dog found after crossing 150 miles of sea ice, Service dog provider Mutts with a Mission is low on its most valuable resource: puppy raisers, Your dog and the zoomies: The AKC provides tips for managing hyperactivity, Dogs rescued from 60-foot-deep cave in Kentucky, Dog rescued after falling through ice in Massachusetts. Unclear, but there are considerably more words for the occasion very appealing use the term pajamas likely! 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