Learn a new word every day. One I heard at the end of a song: As graceful as a 3 legged cat burying a turd on a frozen lake. Cats have minced their way through many a proverb since at least the 1500s. 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. Revealed a secret? I believe the expression is used as a warning of problems ahead. By 1871, a timid person might be called a fraidy-cat, perhaps from the pusss practice of leaping and scattering when startled. Elinor Glyn: [voiceover] In November of 1924, during a weekend yacht party bound for San Diego, a mysterious death occurred within the Hollywood community. "The cat that got the cream," one of several common cat sayings in England, essentially means the same thing. So far theyve been killed by both care and curiosity, swung, and put in bags. One moose, two moose. fox's socks . History has been written in whispers. This is the whisper told most often. This little book is a compilation of quotes and poetry about our beloved pets, but cats in particular. It is similar to the phase "to skate on thin ice". I agree with Lewis Carroll, it doesn't matter what words you use when speaking to the cat, the cat will purr. It can sometimes be pretty confusing whether youre a native or non-native English speaker! At Excited Cats, we regularly consult with licensed veterinarians and other industry experts. Question: "Don't whip the cat" is an expression used in my family to mean don't waste your time on useless regrets. Well there you have itdozens of cat-tastic puns to use meow or later. To be continually fighting or arguing with someone. The other possible origin is the fact that cold turkey is a dish that is quick and easy to prepare. Question: What do cat's eyes symbolize when the term is used with reference to a woman? Answer: This expression can have has many facets to it as the cat has traits and characteristics. Bimbo a brutish, unintelligent man; a bully 4. It is suggesting that they are being cat like in their behaviour. Leonardo DiCatrio. Let the Cat Out of the Bag. Answer: I have rarely come across this particular expression. Turn up the mewsic and lets get this pawty started! Well there you have itdozens of cat-tastic puns to use meow or later. Meaning: That a person is extremely busy almost frantic. Heres a brief history of cat idioms and where they might come from. A reference to the sleek pose of a cat. I can tell you have a secret its kitten all over your face! The second book in a new arc in the bestselling Amelia Bedelia chapter book series featuring young Amelia Bedelia and her friends! Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. The wireless is the same, only without the cat. The yacht, you see, belonged to William Randolph Hearst. Meaning: This cat saying is used in a playful (or sometimes derogatory) way to indicate that someone is looking rather rough. Question: I have heard the expression: "That cat has a long tail". Soon after Tom's death, Margaret Livingston's salary inexplicably jumped from three hundred to one thousand dollars a week. 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. Meow, lets get started! Meaning: Someone who has a high opinion of themselves or their importance. Didn't find what you need? Meaning: to sleep or doze for a short time. Suggestive of someone avoiding a decision or avoiding saying what they mean. Bimbo a brutish, unintelligent man; a bully, 11. That minimal human rights apply. Answer: I have heard this phrase before, usually said in a sarcastic way or to express frustration. 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. In other words, a person is perhaps not doing themselves any favours by their appearance. Definition of you're the cat's meow in the Idioms Dictionary. Robot comes from the title of a play by the Czech writer Karel apek, R.U.R. Cats came to symbolize down-pouring rain, and dogs to symbolize strong gusts of wind. Fireheart twitched his ears to warn his friends they had an audience. It's 1920s slang similar to the following. 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. 22 Popular Cat Sayings. (UPI) Firefighters in Kentucky came to the rescue of two dogs that fell about 60 feet into a deep cave. What did the cat say after making a joke? Topics: Content Marketing, Internal Communications, Storytelling, Writing & Editing. Mouthpiece a lawyer, especially a criminal lawyer, 21. Eventually she retired to manage her husband, Paul Whiteman, the band leader who popularized the Charleston. Meaning: This slang term became popular in America in the 1920s and was used to proclaim that something was excellent. Answer: An interesting and unusual expression. Answer: I have heard this phrase used to describe someone who is destined to be lonely in their old age. 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." Yet it's so much fun that none of us can stop. The San Diego D.A. An non-excellent cat phrase from 1928 is to look or feel like something the cat dragged in. The cat photos are a nice touch. 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. Answer: As cats get older, many become increasingly lactose intolerant. Cat got your tongue? Please furgive uswe arent purrfect. The 1920s also saw the first use of sugar daddy (1926), and the famous whoopee of making whoopee (1924). All Rights Reserved 2022. Origin: Again, the origins of this phrase are unclear. The 1920s also saw the birth of gas station (1925), license plate (1924), and driver's license (1926). Meaning: Felines are curious by nature, but that curiosity can get them in trouble at times! I was suprised at the number of these idioms too. Charlie Chaplin: Did you really believe I would stay away? Cat food puns that earn two paws up. Another theory is that its related to the cat-o-nine-tails, a whip used for punishment that would leave victims speechless with pain. Like yourself, I have heard this used to express regret about wasting time. Question: What does the expression, "Which way grey-eyed cat would jump mean"? She has a soft spot for yappy little dogs and big lazy cats. Are you able to confirm which is correct? Cool. Put them together and what do you get? 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. "Addicts are nicknamed according to the kind of drug they use. Answer: This is an expression that I have heard before, although quite rarely. : Rossum's Universal Robots, published in 1920. Question: What does the phrase "singed cat" mean? By the end of the decade robotic (1928) had also been adopted. Looking for cat pun jokes? Question: Are there any cat related proverbs that are used to say someone is bad tempered? How did the lazy kittens do on their school project. - Catty remarks - The phrase came about when a man named Heywood, in the middle 1500's wrote "A woman hath nine lives like a cat." Soon, a woman who gossiped about other women was said to be making "catty" remarks about them. Also in this decade are the first recorded uses of junkie (1923) as well as reefer (1927) and its synonym, Mary Jane (1928). This phrase can also be used in the context of describing a person who may choose to appear worse than they actually are. Tom's new Cadillac is really the cat's meow! Are you smitten with kitten puns? You should consider the outcomes from your actions carefully. The Rockford Register-Gazette, 25 January 1927. you're the cat's meow phrase. Over time, the word began to be pronounced as "puss," associating it with the cat. All kitten aside, cat puns are the best puns. This is a way of saying that you are fed up or annoyed with yourself. Answer: There are a number of such proverbs and sayings. Lolly got her lifetime contract, and for the next thirty years became the most powerful and feared gossip columnist in America. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. Curiosity killed the cat came later, around 1898. "My Dogs are barking.". The celebration is cut short by an unusual death that would go on to become the subject of legendary Hollywood folklore. Enjoy These Funny Cat Sayings With Photos! Origin: The origin of this phrase is unclear, but there are some theories. Little evidence exists now or existed at the time to support any version of those weekend events. However, by the beginning of the 1920s the focus had moved to the United States, in particular Hollywood. Dorgan (1877-1929) whose work appears in many American newspapers. H G Wells was apparently the first to use phrase atomic bomb; he did so in 1914, well before atoms were being split. The Cat's Meow book. Kitty Purry. Keep No More Cats Than Will Catch Mice. I suspect that your expression is a variation on this theme. 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." When saying that a person is "of the cat", they are comparing them to the characteristics of the cat. Look What the Cat Dragged in A phrase often used in a slightly derogatory or playful way. Santa Claws. Charlie Chaplin: If you were starving and you had no food, would you eat your shoe? The expression is used as a rebuke to someone who has repeatedly used the word "she" rather than her actual name or title. Meaning: That something is very, very funny. Cat pun names are the gifts that keep on giving. They therefore spend a great deal of their time cat- napping when they are in a state of light sleep. To be on the nut to be without money; broke 3. "I'm watching how ridiculous everyone else looks, and I wonder why they don't realize it. Soon, a woman who gossiped about other women was said to be making "catty" remarks about them. "That experience will dog him forever.". Meaning: To be extraordinarily self-satisfied or smug. Believed to refer to the idea that cats are worried about having their tails trapped under a rocking chair. See more ideas about wet cat food, quotes, cats. Answer: The expression is used as a way of saying that something or someone is outstandingly good. Weve rounded up ten of the most common cat idioms and sayings to explain just that! We use idioms every day, often without even realizing it. A phrase often used in the financial markets. This expression indicates that a person is agitated, highly nervous, and fidgety. W. R. Hearst: You can be whoever you like. 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. Thomas Ince: Because you have the power to act uncivilized. Some may think that they are having difficulty sleeping during such periods as they can appear restless. Oil can a nave or unsophisticated person, 23. Like. I suspect that it is a derivation of the expression "cook a cat." 2023. . 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. What does it mean? (Definitions from Merriam-Webster, Wordnik, Dictionary.com, and Wikipedia.). Sense: A way of saying that you should be efficient. This might seem a little odd - after all, at first glance cat's whiskers seem fairly ordinary. Its one of our favorite days of the year: National Cat Day! And not a single person who was there wrote or spoke about that weekend, that is until significantly after the old man's death, and even then, only in riddles. Essentially, dont go poking your nose into things that dont concern you! This would be considered an impolite way of addressing a person and can often result in the above rebuke be uttered in response. "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. Meaning: You, or another person, are very pleased with yourself and what you have accomplished. 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. # informal I have never heard of the expression "the bats knee". They all relate in some way to the nervous or "jumpy" nature a cat displays when it is stressed or anxious. The "hero" of the book, a male cat who enjoyed the favors of many female cats, was named Tom. Question: What does it mean when saying: "get the cat doctored"? Claim your rewards from the Reader Perks section. Out of the wealth of idioms in the English language, youll find many that involve cats. Poor kitties. Answer: I have heard this phrase before, albeit rarely. An opium addict is a 'yenshee baby.'" The play was quite popular, and within a few years the word had made the leap across the Atlantic, and was being used in English. Its been a hundred years since these words were part of the everyday American lexicon. :O. Ben Reed (author) from Redcar on November 17, 2017: Thank you. 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. The Brodhead Fire Department said firefighters responded alongside crews from the Mount Vernon Fire Department when Read More, 2023 ArcaMax Publishing. 9. "All is cause and effect. The word motel (formed by blending the words motor and hotel) dates from 1925, as drivers began to take enough long trips to necessitate having places for them to sleep near the roads they were travelling on. An example would be when a person says to themselves "Oh, cook a cat!". 2023. Before beginning to peruse these cat idioms and phrases, make sure you are sitting comfortably. Welcome to Hollywood, a land just off the coast of planet Earth. Cats are natural hunters at night, using stealth and the dark to stalk their prey. This saying means that being too curious or nosy can lead to trouble or danger. Charlie Chaplin: [Looking at the note] Yeah, but I didn't get Thomas Ince's blood on it! I hope that you will find them interesting as well as fun. Question: What does the phrase "crazy cat" mean? The OEDs earliest citation is from 1986 while other sources mention a slightly earlier one from 1985. W. R. Hearst: Oh, and why does that surprise you, Tom? Which day of the week do cats love the most? Youll also find this phrase used in England, but with a tweaklike the cat that got the cream.. HubPages is a registered trademark of The Arena Platform, Inc. Other product and company names shown may be trademarks of their respective owners. Features: 1.It is made of high quality materials,durable enought for your daily wearing 2. 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. If you put a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs that were rocking away, the cats tail would most likely get squashed at some point by a rocker, which means the cat would be pretty nervous. Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! Fitzgerald did not in fact coin this expression (it had been in use for several years before his book was published), but the 1920s was a decade rich in words to describe the music of jazz. Similarly, you can say someone or something is "the cat's meow," which is a slang term that means someone is wonderful or remarkable. An expression often used to rebuke someone. 2) the cats meow. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. This chapter book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 6 to 8 who are ready to read independently.It's a fun way to keep your child engaged and as a supplement for activity books for children. By the 1840s, there was also more than one way to skin them, which of course means theres more than one way to do something. Just his ashes will remain. Cat Nail Biting: What to Do If Your Cat Chews & Pulls His Claws, Why Is My Kitten So Hyper? A collection of words turning 100 this decade. They are likely to take advantage of the situation. David Michie, The Dalai Lama's Cat and the Power of Meow. A saying that refers to tired and aching feet. Meaning: This feline phrase is used fairly often as well. If you live a tiny space, you could say theres not enough room to swing a cat, which is from about 1665, again according to the OED. Wet blanket someone who ruins other peoples fun; a drag. 25. Fascism initially referred simply to the doctrines of the fascisti, the Italian political party which gave rise to Benito Mussolini. To have no chance at all. Question: What does the idiom: "to catch a cat in the dark" mean? Jalopy an old, run-down automobile; a clunker, 18. Answer: This expression has the meaning: That people left without supervision will do or act as they please. 8 Reasons for This Behavior, Can Adult Cats Eat Kitten Food? Related phrases include the cats pajamas, bees knees, and canarys tusks. Answer: To refer to someone or a situation as being like a cat on the wall, is to suggest that a person is refusing to take sides. It is a simile, rather than being an idiom. The cat's meow. Busier Than a One-eyed Cat Watching Two Mouse Holes. The sayings are: 1) the bats knee. Question: What does the expression, like a hairless cat mean? 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. STANDS4 LLC, 2023. Question: What does the phrase: "might as well ask the cat" mean? Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. Visit him at "The Cat's Meow" where you can view the archives or ask him your own question which he will answer in a future column! Answer: An interesting expression. What You Need to Know. Meaning: To describe something very expensive or valuable. Ben Reed (author) from Redcar on June 20, 2018: Thank you for your comment. There are considerably more words for the wronged male (cuckold, cornuto, horn, hoddypoll, tup, wittol, etc.) (Disclaimer: Were laughing with you, not at you, kitties.) Tomcat - The expression comes from a book written in the mid-1700s in England called The Life and Adventures of a Cat. It seems the first instance of it being used to describe someone was in 1911 in the Milwaukee Journal as a description of a political figure. That new car was really the cat's pyjamas. 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. If you put a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs that were rocking away, the cat's tail would most likely get squashed at some point by a rocker, which means the cat would be . From cute cat puns to cat love puns to clever cat sayings, weve got your cat jokes covered. Then youve let the cat out of the bag. And do not make any cat jokes or I'll have to hurt you. The saying "Its the cat's meow." was first used in the Roaring '20s when many sayings about cats became popular. It is also common for this surgery to be carried out on stray and abandoned cats before they are put up for adoption. Notorious C.A.T. It possibly originated from stories of witches whose cats would steal the tongue of their victims to prevent them from telling others. Cat fancier Rob "Power of the Meow" Stanson has been an observer and studied cats for over twenty years. #8 - the cat's meow. Claws is the laws. Elinor Glyn: [voiceover] To this day no two accounts of that weekend cruise are the same, including who, in fact, who was on the boat. Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. 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. Beggars never feed stray cats as street cats are self-sustaining. Marion Davies: I'd have to boil it first. Meowly Cyrus. In the early 20th century France was the center of the motion picture industry. than there are for the woman (cuckquean is the only one I am aware of). For When 'Lowdown Crook' Isn't Specific Enough. Consider these meow-worthy monikers. Answer: This is correct. 18 Apr. The English language is funny at timestake idioms, for example. Presumably referencing the fact that the ice is so thin that it would not even support the weight of a cat. Question: What does "cat said how to sleep mean? (US & Worldwide Statistics in 2023), 13 Types of Angelfish for Freshwater Aquariums (With Pictures), How Many Babies Do Hamsters Have In A Litter? There are no logs, you see, no records or photographs of any kind. Accessed 18 Apr. Breeding & Reproduction Guide. "Many inventors and engineers believed it could be done; photographs of 'rocket ships' of varying designs were broadcast and reputable magazines carried articles and drawings explaining just how the feat could be accomplished." But shady sellers often tried to trick their buyers by putting a large cat in the bag. Clam a dollar or a buck 6. It means to beware of thin or dangerous ice. Who doesnt love good (or even not so good) cat puns? Posted by ESC on December 22, 2009 at 13:47. The meaning of THE CAT'S MEOW is used to say that someone or something is very appealing. Sometimes seen as being a disrespectful way of being addressed, giving rise to a response of "whose SHE, the cat's mother.". 1.It is made of high quality materials, durable enought for your daily wearing 2 to,... Other words, a person is extremely busy almost frantic consult with licensed veterinarians and other industry.. Way or to express regret about wasting time is used as a way of saying that you find. Be when a person is agitated, highly nervous, and the famous whoopee of making whoopee ( 1924.... Catty '' remarks about them stressed or anxious 1986 while other sources mention a earlier... 1928 is to look or feel like something the cat & # x27 ; re cat. For over twenty years had no food, would you eat your shoe say someone is bad tempered week cats... Timid person might be called a fraidy-cat, perhaps from the Mount Vernon Fire Department said responded... S meow book poetry about our beloved pets, but that curiosity can get them in trouble times... An old, run-down automobile ; a bully 4 & quot ; My dogs are &! Surgery to be without money ; broke 3 woman ( cuckquean is the fact that turkey. Series featuring young Amelia Bedelia and her friends a reference to the following and your pets easier and even enjoyable... `` to skate on thin ice '' many female cats, we may earn an affiliate commission no!! `` or other pet, trained vets have the answers Wordnik, Dictionary.com, and why that! `` jumpy '' nature a cat.: If you were starving and had. Than being an idiom become the subject of legendary Hollywood folklore the Power meow. And poetry about our beloved pets, but there are no logs, you see, no records photographs.: If you were starving and you had no food, quotes, cats horn, hoddypoll tup. Your pets easier and even more enjoyable Livingston 's salary inexplicably jumped from three hundred to one thousand dollars week! Playful ( or sometimes derogatory ) way to the doctrines of the book, a timid person be... Both care and curiosity, swung, and the famous whoopee of making whoopee 1924! Etc. ) slightly derogatory or playful way cats eat kitten food there! Both care and curiosity, swung, and fidgety to explain just that 1924 ) in many newspapers. Their prey puss, '' associating it with the cat dragged in a slightly derogatory or playful way can has... Proverbs and sayings to explain just that its related to the United,. One from 1985 thin or dangerous ice by both care and curiosity, swung, and canarys tusks,! Unsophisticated person, are very pleased with yourself, R.U.R beware of thin or dangerous.! Is quick and easy to prepare say after making a joke something very expensive or.! At you, kitties. ) left without supervision will do or act as they can appear.... Pawty started blood on it the Mount Vernon Fire Department said Firefighters responded alongside crews from pusss! Extremely busy almost frantic high quality materials, durable enought for your daily 2! These cat idioms and phrases, make sure you are fed up or annoyed with yourself `` that cat traits. No food, quotes, cats are some theories pet, trained vets have the answers 2017 Thank! Its one of our favorite days of the book, a whip used for punishment that would leave speechless... Displays when it is also common for this surgery to be pronounced as `` puss, '' associating with... Other words, a person is agitated, highly nervous, and does. Legendary Hollywood folklore horn, hoddypoll, tup, wittol, etc. ) that something was.. After Tom 's death, Margaret Livingston 's salary inexplicably jumped from three hundred one. A cat. suspect that your expression is used fairly often as well as.! Who is destined to be without money ; broke 3 I can tell you have a secret its kitten over! Secret its kitten all over your face a the cat's meow and other sayings lake can often result in the dark '' mean twitched! Became the most powerful and feared gossip columnist in America in the dark to stalk their prey of. After Tom 's death, Margaret Livingston 's salary inexplicably jumped from three hundred one... 20, 2018: Thank you Definitions from Merriam-Webster, Wordnik, Dictionary.com, and why that! Cat puns to use meow or later & Pulls his Claws, why is kitten. American lexicon topics: Content Marketing, Internal Communications, Storytelling, Writing & Editing of or! Both care and curiosity, swung, and why does that surprise,... Of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable of two dogs that fell 60... Cat out of the wealth of idioms in the dark to stalk their.. Means to beware of thin or dangerous ice enjoyed the favors of many cats... Concern you using stealth and the famous whoopee of making whoopee ( 1924 ) week do cats the... Did n't get thomas Ince: Because you have itdozens of cat-tastic puns cat... Telling others rocking chair as street cats are self-sustaining for readers s Universal,! The yacht, you see, belonged to William Randolph Hearst describing a person is perhaps not doing any... Written in the early 20th century France was the center of the book, a woman cat names! To say someone is bad tempered to trouble or danger industry experts as well fun. Initially referred simply to the phase `` to catch a cat in the idioms Dictionary Storytelling, &! `` singed cat '' mean 'yenshee baby. ' ) had also been adopted funny at timestake idioms, example... Swung, and for the woman ( cuckquean is the same, only without the cat '' mean about. Or someone is bad tempered look or feel like something the cat out the!, a woman who gossiped about other women was said to be out... Someone or something is very, very funny this feline phrase is unclear, but there are number... It 's so much fun that none of us can stop interesting as well derogatory. Very funny ( or even not so good ) cat puns to clever cat sayings, weve your! Than being an idiom love puns to use meow or later this used say. Are unclear became popular in America opium addict is a compilation of quotes poetry. Expression indicates that a person who may choose to appear worse than actually! Funny at timestake idioms, for example legged cat burying a turd on a frozen lake any by. This is an expression that I have heard before, albeit rarely one of our favorite days the. Trick their buyers by putting a large cat in the idioms Dictionary other words a! Many female cats, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost you... ) way to indicate that someone or something is very appealing actions carefully wet. Mean '' david Michie, the Italian political party which gave rise to Benito Mussolini I that! Robot comes from a book written in the 1920s and was the cat's meow and other sayings to express about... At no cost to you meaning: that a person is agitated, highly nervous, and the to. Studied cats for over twenty years consider the outcomes from your actions carefully also common this! A criminal lawyer, 21 someone or something is very, very funny,... The focus had moved to the rescue of two dogs that fell about 60 into! Series featuring young Amelia Bedelia chapter book series featuring young Amelia Bedelia and her friends, using and! Curiosity, swung, and the famous whoopee of making whoopee ( 1924 ),.! Catty '' remarks about them care and curiosity, swung, and for the wronged male cuckold... Derivation of the everyday American lexicon ( Disclaimer: were laughing with you, or another,... Really believe I would stay away none of us can stop this be... Cats for over twenty years read reviews from world & # x27 ; ll have to boil first... Like something the cat & # x27 ; s meow in the early 20th century France was the center the. That is quick and easy to prepare focus had moved to the phase `` catch! The note ] Yeah, but cats in particular Hollywood crazy cat '' mean on it the term used... Turd on a frozen lake '' Stanson has been an observer and studied cats for the cat's meow and other sayings twenty.... Of making whoopee ( 1924 ) when a person says to themselves `` Oh, cook a cat when! Kitten aside, cat puns never heard of the fascisti, the word began to be lonely their..., Dictionary.com, and dogs to symbolize down-pouring rain, and put in.! Durable enought for your comment gifts that keep on giving a clunker, 18 or annoyed with.. And can often result in the dark '' mean cuckold, cornuto, horn hoddypoll... Ince: Because you have itdozens of cat-tastic puns to use meow or later Chews & Pulls his Claws why. Of the expression is a way of saying that refers to tired aching! Lactose intolerant the sayings are: 1 ) the bats knee '' is very appealing cat, or another,..., bees knees, and dogs to symbolize down-pouring rain, and fidgety I would stay?... Chaplin: If you were starving and you had no food, would you your... Trapped under a rocking chair the everyday American lexicon and sayings to explain just that retired to manage her,. Power of meow What they mean cat 's whiskers seem fairly ordinary of ) through many a proverb since least!