List of Cat Idioms
The list below introduces 30 most common cat idioms in English.
- Fight Like Cat And Dog
- Rain Cats And Dogs
- (Like) Herding Cats
- (There’s) More Than One Way to Skin A Cat
- (To Put the) Cat Among(st) the Pigeons
- A Cat Has Nine Lives
- A Cat In Gloves Catches No Mice
- A Cat Nap
- A Scaredy-Cat
- Bell the Cat
- Can’t Swing A Dead Cat In (Place) Without Hitting A (Thing)
- Cat Fight
- Cat Got Your Tongue?
- Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
- Cat-and-Mouse (adj.)
- Cat’s Paw
- Cool Cat
- Curiosity Killed The Cat
- Fat Cat
- Let the Cat Out of the Bag
- Like The Cat That Got The Cream
- Look What the Cat Dragged In
- No Room To Swing A Cat
- Not Enough Room to Swing a Cat
- Play Cat And Mouse
- Put The Cat Among The Pigeons
- The Cat Is Out of the Bag
- There’s More Than One Way To Skin A Cat
- Not Have A Cat In Hell’s Chance
- Who’s She, the Cat’s Mother?
Cat Idioms with Meaning and Examples
Fight Like Cat And Dog
- Meaning: To argue or fight constantly, like cats and dogs.
- Example: My brother and I used to fight like cat and dog, but now we get along great.
Rain Cats And Dogs
- Meaning: To rain heavily.
- Example: It was raining cats and dogs last night, and I got completely soaked.
(Like) Herding Cats
- Meaning: To try to control or organize a group of people or things that are difficult to control or organize.
- Example: Trying to get our team to agree on a project plan is like herding cats.
(There’s) More Than One Way to Skin A Cat
- Meaning: There are many ways to do something.
- Example: We could take the highway or the back roads to get there. There’s more than one way to skin a cat.
(To Put the) Cat Among(st) the Pigeons
- Meaning: To cause trouble or provoke a reaction.
- Example: When John announced he was leaving the company, it put the cat among the pigeons.
A Cat Has Nine Lives
- Meaning: Cats are said to have nine lives, meaning they can survive dangerous situations.
- Example: After surviving a terrible car accident, everyone said he must have a cat’s nine lives.
A Cat In Gloves Catches No Mice
- Meaning: If you’re too cautious or polite, you won’t achieve your goals.
- Example: You need to be more assertive if you want to succeed. A cat in gloves catches no mice.
A Cat Nap
- Meaning: A short sleep taken during the day.
- Example: After lunch, I usually take a cat nap to refresh my mind.
A Scaredy-Cat
- Meaning: A person who is easily frightened or scared.
- Example: Don’t be a scaredy-cat, it’s just a harmless spider.
Bell the Cat
- Meaning: To undertake a dangerous or difficult task.
- Example: The team was hesitant to take on the new project, but the manager decided to bell the cat and lead the way.
Can’t Swing A Dead Cat In (Place) Without Hitting A (Thing)
Meaning: There are too many of something in a small space. Example: There were so many people in the store, you couldn’t swing a dead cat without hitting someone.
Cat Fight
- Meaning: A nasty argument or a physical fight between two women.
- Example: The two actresses had a cat fight on the set, and it made headlines in the tabloids.
Cat Got Your Tongue?
- Meaning: Why aren’t you speaking?
- Example: Why aren’t you saying anything? Cat got your tongue?
Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
- Meaning: To be nervous or uncomfortable.
- Example: I had to give a speech in front of a big audience, and I felt like a cat on a hot tin roof.
Cat-and-Mouse (adj.)
- Meaning: A situation in which one person is trying to catch or find another person who is trying to avoid being caught or found.
- Example: The police were in a cat-and-mouse chase with the criminal for weeks.
Cat’s Paw
- Meaning: A person who is used by someone else to do something without realizing it.
- Example: He was just a cat’s paw for the real mastermind behind the scheme.
Cool Cat
Meaning: A person who is calm and collected. Example: Even in the face of danger, he remained a cool cat.
Curiosity Killed The Cat
- Meaning: Being too curious can lead to trouble.
- Example: I wouldn’t go poking around in there if I were you. Remember, curiosity killed the cat.
Fat Cat
- Meaning: A wealthy and powerful person.
- Example: The CEO of the company was a fat cat who lived in a mansion.
Let the Cat Out of the Bag
- Meaning: To reveal a secret.
- Example: I accidentally let the cat out of the bag and told her about the surprise party.
Like The Cat That Got The Cream
- Meaning: To be very pleased with oneself.
- Example: After winning the race, he strutted around like the cat that got the cream.
Look What the Cat Dragged In
- Meaning: Used to express disdain or disapproval of someone who has arrived unexpectedly or is unwelcome.
- Example: Look what the cat dragged in. I can’t believe you invited him to the party.
No Room To Swing A Cat
- Meaning: A small or cramped space.
- Example: This apartment is so small, there’s no room to swing a cat.
Not Enough Room to Swing a Cat
- Meaning: A small or cramped space.
- Example: The car was so packed with people and luggage, there wasn’t enough room to swing a cat.
Play Cat And Mouse
- Meaning: To play with someone or something, often in a cruel or teasing way.
- Example: The cat played cat and mouse with the mouse before finally catching it.
Put The Cat Among The Pigeons
- Meaning: To cause trouble or provoke a reaction.
- Example: When the CEO announced the layoffs, it put the cat among the pigeons.
The Cat Is Out of the Bag
- Meaning: The secret is out.
- Example: I accidentally let the cat out of the bag and told her about the surprise party.
There’s More Than One Way To Skin A Cat
- Meaning: There are many ways to achieve the same result.
- Example: “I’m not sure how to solve this problem.” “Don’t worry, there’s more than one way to skin a cat. Let’s brainstorm some different approaches.”
Not Have A Cat In Hell’s Chance
- Meaning: To have no chance at all.
- Example: “Do you think I have a chance of winning the lottery?” “No, you don’t have a cat in hell’s chance of winning.”
Note: Primarily heard in UK.
Who’s She, the Cat’s Mother?
- Meaning: Used to scold someone for using a pronoun instead of a name.
- Example: “Hey, can you pass me that book?” “Who’s she, the cat’s mother? Use my name, please.”
