Idioms are clever little phrases that make our everyday conversations more colorful and imaginative. And when it comes to cats—the mysterious, independent, and endlessly fascinating creatures—they’ve found their way into many expressions we use in English. From sneaky secrets to curious behavior, cat idioms are packed with personality and charm.
Whether you’re a cat lover or just curious about language, these idioms can help you understand how people express ideas in fun, quirky ways. Cat-related idioms often reflect traits we associate with felines: cleverness, curiosity, unpredictability, and sometimes a bit of sass. They’re perfect for adding a dash of humor and cleverness to your everyday conversations.
In this article, you’ll explore 42 idioms that include the word “cat” or are inspired by feline behavior. You’ll learn what each one means, how to use it in a sentence, and discover other ways to say the same thing. This is a fun and easy way to build your vocabulary while giving your language skills a boost. Let’s unravel the yarn ball of cat idioms together!
Idioms for Cat
1. Let the cat out of the bag
Meaning: To reveal a secret, often by accident.
In a Sentence: I accidentally let the cat out of the bag about Emily’s surprise party before she arrived.
Other Ways to Say: Spill the beans, Give away the secret
2. Curiosity killed the cat
Meaning: Being too curious can lead to trouble or danger.
In a Sentence: I wanted to read his private journal, but then I remembered that curiosity killed the cat.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t pry, Stay out of it
3. Cat got your tongue?
Meaning: Said when someone is unexpectedly silent or speechless.
In a Sentence: You were talking nonstop earlier—what’s wrong now, cat got your tongue?
Other Ways to Say: Why so quiet? Lost for words?
4. Look what the cat dragged in
Meaning: A joking way to acknowledge someone’s messy appearance or unexpected arrival.
In a Sentence: When Jake showed up late with his hair all wild, I said, “Well, look what the cat dragged in!”
Other Ways to Say: Nice of you to join us, You look like a mess
5. Fight like cats and dogs
Meaning: To argue or fight fiercely and frequently.
In a Sentence: My little cousins fight like cats and dogs over the tiniest things.
Other Ways to Say: Constantly bicker, Always argue
6. Not enough room to swing a cat
Meaning: A space that’s extremely small or cramped.
In a Sentence: My dorm room is so tiny, there’s barely enough room to swing a cat in there!
Other Ways to Say: Super cramped, Really tight space
7. A cat nap
Meaning: A short, light sleep during the day.
In a Sentence: I took a quick cat nap on the couch before my evening class.
Other Ways to Say: Power nap, Quick rest
8. Like a cat on a hot tin roof
Meaning: Extremely nervous or restless.
In a Sentence: She was pacing back and forth before her presentation, like a cat on a hot tin roof.
Other Ways to Say: Very anxious, Jumping with nerves
9. The cat’s out of the bag
Meaning: The secret has been revealed or exposed.
In a Sentence: Everyone knows about the promotion now—the cat’s out of the bag.
Other Ways to Say: The secret is out, It’s no longer a surprise
10. The cat’s meow
Meaning: Something or someone that is excellent or highly admired.
In a Sentence: That vintage dress is the cat’s meow—so stylish and unique!
Other Ways to Say: Amazing, Top-notch
11. Like herding cats
Meaning: Trying to control or organize a group of people who are difficult to manage.
In a Sentence: Organizing my siblings for a family photo was like herding cats—total chaos and no one listened.
Other Ways to Say: Impossible to manage, Extremely unorganized
12. A copycat
Meaning: Someone who imitates another person’s actions or style.
In a Sentence: He wore the same outfit I did yesterday—what a copycat!
Other Ways to Say: Imitator, Mimic
13. Cat around
Meaning: To behave in a flirtatious or promiscuous way, usually used for men.
In a Sentence: He used to cat around before he settled down with his girlfriend.
Other Ways to Say: Fool around, Flirt excessively
14. Cat’s whiskers
Meaning: Something or someone that is considered excellent or superior.
In a Sentence: Back in the day, having your own car made you feel like the cat’s whiskers.
Other Ways to Say: Impressive, Really cool
15. When the cat’s away, the mice will play
Meaning: People tend to misbehave when their authority figure is absent.
In a Sentence: As soon as the teacher stepped out, the class got rowdy—when the cat’s away, the mice will play.
Other Ways to Say: No rules when the boss is gone, Let loose when no one’s watching
16. Cat burglar
Meaning: A thief who breaks in quietly and stealthily, often without being noticed.
In a Sentence: The cat burglar slipped in through the window without making a sound.
Other Ways to Say: Silent thief, Sneaky intruder
17. Cat’s paw
Meaning: Someone who is used by another person to do something dishonest or dangerous.
In a Sentence: He didn’t realize he was just a cat’s paw in their plan to scam investors.
Other Ways to Say: Pawn, Unwitting tool
18. A scaredy-cat
Meaning: A person who is easily frightened or overly cautious.
In a Sentence: Don’t be such a scaredy-cat—it’s just a haunted house, not a real ghost!
Other Ways to Say: Coward, Chicken
19. Catcall
Meaning: A loud whistle or shout made to show disapproval or often to harass someone, especially women.
In a Sentence: She was annoyed by the catcalls as she walked past the construction site.
Other Ways to Say: Harassing whistle, Rude shout
20. Raining cats and dogs
Meaning: Raining very heavily.
In a Sentence: We had to cancel the picnic because it was raining cats and dogs all afternoon.
Other Ways to Say: Pouring rain, Heavy downpour
21. Cat on the prowl
Meaning: Someone who is actively looking for something, often with romantic or mischievous intentions.
In a Sentence: At the party, he was clearly a cat on the prowl, eyeing every girl in the room.
Other Ways to Say: On the hunt, Looking to flirt
22. Play cat and mouse
Meaning: To engage in a teasing or strategic game, often where one person is trying to catch or outwit the other.
In a Sentence: The detective and the criminal played cat and mouse for months before the arrest.
Other Ways to Say: Play a chasing game, Try to outsmart
23. Cat fight
Meaning: A physical or verbal fight, typically between two women.
In a Sentence: The reality show ended with a dramatic cat fight over a misunderstanding.
Other Ways to Say: Heated argument, Girl-on-girl fight
24. Cat’s eyes
Meaning: Reflective road markers used to guide drivers at night.
In a Sentence: The cat’s eyes on the highway helped me see the lanes in the fog.
Other Ways to Say: Road reflectors, Lane markers
25. Fat cat
Meaning: A wealthy and powerful person, often in a negative or critical way.
In a Sentence: The fat cats in the boardroom got bonuses while the workers got laid off.
Other Ways to Say: Rich executive, Corporate bigwig
26. Grin like a Cheshire cat
Meaning: To smile broadly and mysteriously, sometimes mischievously.
In a Sentence: She grinned like a Cheshire cat when I asked what the surprise was.
Other Ways to Say: Big smile, Secretive grin
27. Cool cat
Meaning: A person who is calm, stylish, and confident.
In a Sentence: He walked in with his sunglasses and leather jacket like a real cool cat.
Other Ways to Say: Smooth operator, Confident person
28. There’s more than one way to skin a cat
Meaning: There are many ways to achieve the same goal.
In a Sentence: If this plan doesn’t work, don’t worry—there’s more than one way to skin a cat.
Other Ways to Say: Many ways to do something, Not the only solution
29. Like a cat with nine lives
Meaning: Someone who seems to escape danger or recover from trouble repeatedly.
In a Sentence: After three accidents and still walking, he’s like a cat with nine lives.
Other Ways to Say: Always survives, Lucky survivor
30. Cat got into the cream
Meaning: Someone who looks extremely satisfied or smug.
In a Sentence: After she aced the interview, she looked like a cat that got into the cream.
Other Ways to Say: Smug, Very pleased with oneself
31. Bell the cat
Meaning: To attempt a dangerous or risky task that others avoid.
In a Sentence: Someone has to bell the cat and tell the boss we’re not meeting the deadline.
Other Ways to Say: Take the risk, Step up bravely
32. Like a cat that’s got the cream
Meaning: Looking extremely pleased or proud about something.
In a Sentence: After winning the contest, he strutted around like a cat that’s got the cream.
Other Ways to Say: Very proud, Smug and happy
33. Weak as a kitten
Meaning: Very weak or fragile.
In a Sentence: After the flu, I felt as weak as a kitten and could barely stand.
Other Ways to Say: Extremely tired, Physically weak
34. Live like a cat and dog
Meaning: To live in constant conflict or argument.
In a Sentence: They love each other, but they live like a cat and dog—always bickering.
Other Ways to Say: Always fighting, Never getting along
35. Like a cat in a sack
Meaning: In a confusing or unknown situation; dealing with something without full information.
In a Sentence: Negotiating the deal without knowing the budget felt like a cat in a sack.
Other Ways to Say: In the dark, Flying blind
36. Cat-like reflexes
Meaning: Very quick and responsive reactions.
In a Sentence: He caught the falling phone with cat-like reflexes before it hit the ground.
Other Ways to Say: Super quick, Instinctive reactions
37. Cat’s cradle
Meaning: A confusing or tangled situation, especially involving people or ideas.
In a Sentence: The meeting turned into a cat’s cradle of conflicting opinions.
Other Ways to Say: Messy situation, Complicated tangle
38. Cat-lap
Meaning: A drink that is too mild or weak, often used for a drink that should be stronger.
In a Sentence: This coffee is like cat-lap—I need something stronger to wake me up.
Other Ways to Say: Weak drink, Watery beverage
39. Smell a cat
Meaning: To sense that something suspicious or wrong is happening.
In a Sentence: I smell a cat in this deal—it just feels too good to be true.
Other Ways to Say: Feel suspicious, Sense something fishy
40. A cat in gloves catches no mice
Meaning: Being too careful or polite might prevent you from achieving your goals.
In a Sentence: If you want the promotion, be bold—a cat in gloves catches no mice.
Other Ways to Say: Take action boldly, Don’t be too gentle
41. The cat’s pajamas
Meaning: Something or someone considered to be outstanding or the best.
In a Sentence: That new phone is the cat’s pajamas—super sleek and loaded with features.
Other Ways to Say: The best, Top-tier
42. A cat in hell’s chance
Meaning: Absolutely no chance of something happening.
In a Sentence: I had a cat in hell’s chance of getting tickets to that sold-out concert.
Other Ways to Say: No way, Zero possibility
Exercise to Practice
Fill in the blanks:
- When he told me the ending of the movie, he really let the _______ out of the bag.
- She was acting like a _______ on a hot tin roof before her big interview.
- I didn’t expect to see you today—look what the _______ dragged in!
- That tiny apartment didn’t have enough room to _______ a cat.
- The kids always act wild when the teacher leaves—when the _______ away, the mice will play.
- He dodged trouble so many times—he’s like a cat with _______ lives.
- She strutted in after winning the game like the cat that got the _______.
- Telling the manager about the mistake won’t be easy, but someone has to _______ the cat.
- This mystery has turned into a total cat’s _______—I can’t follow any of it!
- That watered-down tea tastes like cat-_______—give me something with flavor!
- I smelled a _______ when the price seemed too low to be real.
- I worked so hard to land that job—I wasn’t going to be a cat in _______ gloves!
Answers:
cat, cat, cat, swing, cat’s, nine, cream, bell, cradle, lap, cat, gloves
Conclusion
Cat idioms are more than just quirky expressions—they’re full of character, humor, and life lessons. From secret-spilling phrases like “let the cat out of the bag” to clever warnings like “curiosity killed the cat,” these idioms bring everyday conversations to life in playful and memorable ways.
By using these phrases, you’re not only enriching your language but also learning to express feelings, situations, and humor in creative forms. Whether you’re writing a story, chatting with friends, or simply trying to sound a little more witty—cat idioms are the perfect addition to your word toolkit.
So go ahead and practice them, sprinkle them into your conversations, and maybe even teach a few to others. After all, learning idioms is the cat’s meow when it comes to mastering expressive language.
