This phrase can also be used in the context of describing a person who may choose to appear worse than they actually are. There aren't any specific idioms or phrases that I am aware of that explain this definitively. # informal bee's knees # excellence dream n. # pleasure , beauty jim-dandy adj. Refers to a person who is the best at what they do. Answer: As cats get older, many become increasingly lactose intolerant. Boy, that singer last night was the cat's meow, wasn't she? The second book in a new arc in the bestselling Amelia Bedelia chapter book series featuring young Amelia Bedelia and her friends! Bimbo a brutish, unintelligent man; a bully, 11. 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. And thats the meaning of this phraseto feel smug or self-satisfied with something youve done. Charlie Chaplin: Your shoe. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. A phrase often used in a slightly derogatory or playful way. Care killed the cat is from around the same time. Oil can a nave or unsophisticated person, 23. 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. Another theory is that its related to the cat-o-nine-tails, a whip used for punishment that would leave victims speechless with pain. Cat's meow. #9 - let the cat out of the bag. Elinor Glyn: After we all leave, the man in the box will disappear. Humans are still better than bots at writing. 2 likes. Enter the email you used in your Ragan store purchase. Paw McCartney. But the phrase may be even older and related to the Greek word katadoupoi, which refers to waterfalls. Some have theorized. An example of this being from the book "Letters from the South" published in the in 1817 by James Kirk Paulding: "He is like a singed cat, and very often takes as much pains to appear worse than he is, as some people among us do to appear better.". When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. The 1920s also saw the first use of sugar daddy (1926), and the famous whoopee of making whoopee (1924). 8 Reasons for This Behavior, Can Adult Cats Eat Kitten Food? Question: "I'll die single with 42 cats". Despite costing a small fortune the picture was a smashing success. Youve got to be kitten me. Is this an idiom? Cat's meow. Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cat%27s%20meow. 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. Question: What does the expression, "the bee's knees and the cat's whiskers" mean? - Frederick Mullally, The Call, 31 December 1945, : an establishment which provides lodging and parking and in which the rooms are usually accessible from an outdoor parking area. Below, youll find some truly hissterical pawsibilities. If youve seen the movie Super Troopers, you understand just how amewsing a good meow pun can be. I think that there is such much fun to be had from language and the way we speak. Answer: Originally a German proverb. Cat's out of the bag! Answer: The expression: "the cats meow" is an idiom. [pause] I've had a recurring dream recently. An non-excellent cat phrase from 1928 is to look or feel like something the cat dragged in. "I was having coffee with a friend the other day and not feeling terribly communicative and she asked me 'Cat got your tongue?' - It's raining cats and dogs - The dog, an attendant of the storm king Odin, was a symbol of wind. The saying "Its the cat's meow." was first used in the Roaring '20s when many sayings about cats became popular. Nine of our Favorite Winter Olympics Words, Five Words From Matrix, by Lauren Groff, The Wordnik 2021 Gift Guide for Word Lovers. And while we might think the saying to grin like a Cheshire cat comes from Lewis Carrolls Alices Adventures in Wonderland, which was published in 1865, the saying is attested from 1770. 1980s: Herding and more swinging cowboys herding cats The phrase herding cats trying to control something unwieldy is from the mid-1980s. Wet blanket someone who ruins other peoples fun; a drag. 1 review. To have no chance at all. He did not examine the body because Ince had been cremated immediately, and except for Dr. Goodman, no member of the boating party was ever questioned, including Hearst. The film is darkly atmospheric, with Herrmann quietly suggesting the sadness and obsession beneath Hearst's forced avuncular chortles. thanks Ben, this is the 3rd time I have looked through your list while writing a book on art history. Use the search! Answer: I have heard this phrase used to describe someone who is destined to be lonely in their old age. Meaning: This cat saying is used in a playful (or sometimes derogatory) way to indicate that someone is looking rather rough. The term woolgathering is sometimes used to describe someone who engages in idol fancies. "Addicts are nicknamed according to the kind of drug they use. Curiosity killed the cat came later, around 1898. At Excited Cats, we regularly consult with licensed veterinarians and other industry experts. She has a soft spot for yappy little dogs and big lazy cats. I'm Kathryn, but everyone calls me Kat. Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! The cat's meow. It means to beware of thin or dangerous ice. Synonyms [ edit] the bee's knees cat's meow dog's bollocks all that and a bag of chips spider's ankles (Ireland) ant's pants (Australia) Translations [ edit] fancy example References [ edit] See also: meow Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. It possibly originated from stories of witches whose cats would steal the tongue of their victims to prevent them from telling others. "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. The procedure is usually performed on kittens at around 4 months of age. Another one was animal-themed nonsense phrases that described something excellent. Like. Well there you have itdozens of cat-tastic puns to use meow or later. 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.". However, we dont know for sure why or when this phrase came into being. Its one of our favorite days of the year: National Cat Day! 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. The yacht, you see, belonged to William Randolph Hearst. Question: I have heard the expression: "That cat has a long tail". I wonder if this is being confused with the idiom "the bees knees", which has the meaning of something being excellent or impressive. The Rockford Register-Gazette, 25 January 1927. "All is cause and effect. Let the Cat Out of the Bag. Also in this decade are the first recorded uses of junkie (1923) as well as reefer (1927) and its synonym, Mary Jane (1928). 2) the cats meow. Editors note: This article is a re-run as part of our countdown of top stories from the past year. Staying with the cat theme, another example of this being: "as brave as a lion.". Its been a hundred years since these words were part of the everyday American lexicon. 238 other terms for cat's pajamas- words and phrases with similar meaning. W. R. Hearst: Oh, and why does that surprise you, Tom? bee's knees # excellence. PetKeen.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. "His thousands of admirers are happy to know that no anti-toxin has yet been discovered to cure this master jazzman of his 'illness!'" Tom's new Cadillac is really the cat's meow! Claws is the laws. 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. Ben Reed (author) from Redcar on March 30, 2018: Thanks Jerry, I hope my list helps sum some small way. The celebration is cut short by an unusual death that would go on to become the subject of legendary Hollywood folklore. Answer: An interesting expression. Get all the latest articles, funny photos, and amazing pet-related offers weekly right in your inbox. Large slang for $1,000 (10 large would be $10,000), 20. Bees knees someone or something splendid or stylish; admirable (also, cat's meow); a cocktail with gin, lemon and honey that dates back to the Prohibition era. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' know, 4. 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. If cats could send birthday cards well, they wouldnt. Poor kitties. It seems that cats have a greater impact on people and our language than we might first imagine. Elinor Glyn: Only in a place like this do reporters and autograph hounds have absolutely no scruples about stampeding mourners at a funeral. 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. Believed to refer to the idea that cats are worried about having their tails trapped under a rocking chair. From Listening to America: An Illustrated History of Words and Phrases from Our Lively and Splendid Past by Stuart Berg Flexner: "For 'great' (in the 20s) we have: the cat's pajamas, remarkable, first used around 1920 . That they will take advantage of the situation. Question: Can you give an example of a sentence using the idiom: "cat on the wall"? Kitty Purry. Sense: A person of low social standing still has rights. Bimbo a brutish, unintelligent man; a bully 4. Keep calm and purr on. Around this time we also see words concerning the regulation of the nascent aviation industry, which began in the 1920s to transport mail and passengers via air; air traffic control is first used in 1920. Become an exclusive insider. Read more of her posts onPR Dailyand atimpertinentremarks.com. Charlie Chaplin: [Looking at the note] Yeah, but I didn't get Thomas Ince's blood on it! 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