Idioms about Cats

blog home

a cat may look at a king – someone of low status still has rights
a fraidy/scaredy-cat – a timid/fearful person
all cats are grey in the dark – if the qualities distinguishing people can’t be perceived, they don’t matter
cat burglar – an agile, stealthy, and unnoticed burglar who climbs up walls and through windows to enter buildings
cat call - a shrill shout or whistle expressing admiration but in a predatory and victimising manner
cat got your tongue? – a question posed to someone who remains silent when expected to speak
catnap – a short sleep during the day
copycat – someone who copies another’s behaviour/clothes/ideas/work
curiosity killed the cat – being nosy might get you into trouble
like a cat on a hot tin roof – agitated/anxious
like a scalded cat – very quickly
like herding cats – difficult/impossible
not enough room to swing a cat – very confined
raining cats and dogs – raining heavily
the cat’s whiskers/pyjamas – an excellent person or thing, of the highest quality
there is more than one way to skin a cat – there are multiple ways to achieve your aim
to fight like cats and dogs – to constantly fight
to let the cat out of the bag – to expose a secret
to look like something the cat dragged in – to look dirty or scruffy
to look like the cat that swallowed the canary/stole the cream – to look very pleased/satisfied with oneself
to not have a cat in hell’s chance – to have no chance
to play cat and mouse with (someone) – to use cunning manoeuvres to trick/thwart someone
to see which way the cat jumps – to see what direction something is taking before committing yourself
to set a cat among the pigeons – to cause controversy
when the cat's away, the mice will play – people will always take advantage of the absence of authority to do what they want to

If you enjoyed this post, why not check out our other articles?

A Comprehensive List of English Idioms
Idioms about Animals
Idioms about Dogs
Idioms about Insects
Idioms about Birds (part 1) and (part 2)

24 Jul 2017
blog home

Idioms about Cats

Recent Blogs

Curriculum...

Resources...

Help...