cat

cat

W3S1 [kæt] n

[: Old English; Origin: catt, probably from Latin cattus, catta]

1.)

a) a small animal with four legs that people often keep as a pet. Cats sometimes kill small animals and birds

→↑feline

tabby/ginger/tortoiseshell etc cat

(=colours of cats)

▪ a tom cat (=a male cat)

b) also big cat

a large animal such as a lion or ↑tiger

2.) let the cat out of the bag

to tell someone a secret, especially without intending to

3.) put/set the cat among the pigeons

to do or say something that causes arguments, trouble etc

4.) play (a game of) cat and mouse (with sb)

to pretend to allow someone to do or have what they want, and then to stop them from doing or having it

▪ The police played an elaborate game of cat and mouse to trap him.

5.) the cat's whiskers/pyjamas informal

something or someone that is better than everything else

▪ I really thought I looked the cat's whiskers in that dress.

6.) like a cat on hot bricks

BrE like a cat on a hot tin roof

AmE so nervous or anxious that you cannot keep still or keep your attention on one thing

7.) not stand/have a cat in hell's chance (of doing sth) informal to not have any chance of succeeding

▪ His party does not have a cat in hell's chance of ever being returned to government.

8.) when the cat's away (the mice will play)

used to say that people will not behave well when the person who has authority over them is not there

9.) like the cat that got the cream

BrE like the cat that ate the canary

AmE informal very proud or pleased because of something you have achieved or got

10.) look like sth the cat dragged/brought in

BrE informal to look very dirty or untidy

→raining cats and dogs at ↑rain² (1), there's not enough room to swing a cat at ↑room¹ (5)