Cat-ch phrases

[luvdemabys]

I have never understood why unkind gossip is described as being "catty." Whatcha think?

[4 feline house]

In the cat bird seat - being in an advantageous position

Harder than herding cats - an impossible task

Pam - unfortunately, 'cat gut' is exactly what it says it is - intestines of cats - but I don't think it's used any more, it has been replaced by synthetic materials for most, and hopefully all, purposes in the last few decades, although the replacements are often still called 'cat gut'.

[daisy]

I saw this expression (reportedly originating from Texas) from the MSN Pets bulletin board:

As busy as a cat covering poop on a marble floor.

(I was chuckling to myself all day the first time I read this because I kept imagining the visual!)

[Troy]

The expression "catty" is more to do with the hissing and spitting associated with two cats fighting...SOME people liken it to two women fighting. The term "hissy fit" is also derived from cat fighting

[wolflady]

Some of these phrases are just so funny I hadn't heard the marble floor phrase before either. It had me chuckling.
Cat's Pajamas is an interesting one, thought you would like to know where that came from:
Cat's pajamas / Cat's meow / Cat's whiskers - Something considered to be outstanding
Coined by American cartoonist Thomas a. Dorgan (1877-1929) whose work appears in many American newspapers.

Another view for
Catgut - What tennis rackets and violin strings are made of
The word came about when the German word "kitgut" was translated into other languages. Kitgut was a small fiddle. The folk tale "cat and the fiddle" probably has something to do with the translation as well.

As far as Catty remarks - Comments made by a woman, usually about another woman
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.

Troy, I liked your point about hissy fit! So true!

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"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

[wolflady]

Here's a new one for the day...
A cat in gloves catches no mice - Sometimes you can't accomplish a goal by being careful and polite.
An idiom attributed to Ben Franklin in Poor Richard's Almanac

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"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

[wolflady]

Here's the phrase for the day:

Cat's foot - To live under the cat's foot is to allow someone to control you.
Phrase was coined in reference to the "toying" behavior of a cat with a mouse or other "toy."

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"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

[wolflady]

The phrase for Jan 31st:

Cat's Paw - To be labeled a "cat's paw" means someone has taken advantage of you and you weren't smart enough to "cat"ch on.
The phrase has its origins in an old folk tale in which a clever monkey tricks a cat into reaching into a fireplace to pull out some roasting chestnuts. The monkey got the chestnuts, but the cat got burned.

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"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

[margaret]

Can anyone explain why the runway that fashion models walk down is sometimes called a "catwalk"? Is it because the models walk like cats along the runway?

[wolflady]

Sure! Catwalk - A narrow walkway
Termed as such because of a cat's ability to balance in very narrow places

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"In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats." - English proverb

[4 feline house]

Cat's eye - gemstone (chrysoberyl)
Cat's cradle - a string game, comes from corruption of cratchcradle, Old French for manger
Looking like the cat that swallowed the canary - looking guilty
Cat call - a loud, disapproving cry from a member of a crowd or audience
Like a cat on a hot tin roof - a very busy person
There's more than one way to skin a cat (a phrase I've always hated) - there's more than one method available
Fat cat - a wealthy, powerful person
Not enough room to swing a cat - a crowded situation

[This message has been edited by 4 feline house (edited February 02, 2001).]

[Troy]

Cat's Eye...also is a name given to the small circular shell that some shellfish make to cover their shell opening. You can sometimes find them on the beaches; they are dome shaped with a small swirly pattern on the flat side and they are about 1cm in diameter. In the 70's it was popular to cover empty glass bottles by glueing them on

[HowieDawn]

"fraidy cat or scaredy cat?" can't forget those!

[HowieDawn]

A leopard cannot change its spots (Does that one count?)

The cat that swallowed the canary

As brave as a lion

As nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs

As playful as a kitten

Enough to make a cat laugh

Sour puss

Let the cat out of the bag

Like a cat on a hot tin roof

When the cat's away the mice will play

Look what the cat dragged in

Peeping Tom

Raining cats and dogs

Smiling like a Cheshire cat

thought of some more...hope none were already listed.



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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails, Explore, Dream.
-Mark Twain

[HowieDawn]

whoops the rocking chair one was the first one from wolflady... sorry about that silly me