There's some international disagreement over when exactly to celebrate International (or World) Cat Day... much of Europe seems to celebrate it Feb. 17, while in other places it's March 1, or August 8. But it doesn't matter — these fantastic cat idioms are useful all year round.
Cat lovers of the world, meow!
1. Has a cat got your tongue?
You say this when you’re getting irritated that someone is keeping quiet when you feel like they should say something! You can also say it when someone has done something wrong and is struggling to find an excuse.
Origin: There’s no definite explanation where the idiom comes from. All we know is that children began using it at the end of the 19th century.
Example: Why can't you tell me how those cookies disappeared from the jar? Has a cat got your tongue?
2. There’s not enough room to swing a cat
Not really the nicest one, if understood literally! It actually describes a very crowded, cramped space, e.g. a small or crowded room.
Origin: All we know for sure is that the phrase dates back to the 17th century. It is still not certain though if the phrase refers to literally swinging the cat by its tail in a room (hopefully not!), or, more likely, a "cat o’ nine tails", a type of whip that was used by Royal Navy and the British Army to inflict punishment.
Example: Look at this apartment, it’s a cramped den — there’s not enough room to swing a cat!
3. A scaredy-cat
Someone who is excessively scared and often overreacts.
Origin: One sudden move and bang – a cat’s gone like the Road Runner. Cats do like to sneak around (see below), but one unappreciated sound or move and they jump as high as possible and run as fast as they can. If you don't know what this looks like, YouTube can help:
Cats' sense of danger is, compared to other animals, developed definitely above average.
Example: Come on, you can do it! Don’t be such a scaredy-cat!
4. A cat burglar
A burglar who can break in imperceptibly, using his agility, flair and nimbleness. Often used when a burglar miraculously bypasses security devices.
Origin: For anyone who has ever had a cat — didn’t you at least once have a moment when you genuinely thought your heart is going to pop out of your chest, when a cat suddenly jumped on your lap out of nowhere? Due to their figure and predatory past, cats have this amazing ability to sneak soundlessly. Big cats still use this well-developed instinct to hunt.
Example: A cat burglar broke into a guarded mansion in Westchester and stole the jewelry worth 10 million dollars!
5. A cat nap
A short, relaxing nap, especially during a day.
Origin: No surprises here: cats sleep up to 18 hours per day, so a cat nap is nothing more than just catching a piece of a cat’s life. There’s no better creature to name a quick nap after.
Example: I am so tired, I'm just going to take a quick cat nape before going out.
6. A leopard can’t change its spots
Well, not exactly a house cat this time, but still – this idiom refers to one of the best known cats on the planet. It’s their day too!
It means that there are some things in life that can’t be changed, even if we want them to.
Origin: That’s an interesting one! It actually comes from the Bible: "Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil."
It basically means that certain qualities can’t be changed due to their inborn nature.
Example: I knew he would cheat on her again! A leopard can’t change its spots.
7. Curiosity killed the cat
This can be used in a few situations, such as a warning for when someone is getting too nosy and asking too many questions, or as a cautionary tale for when people's curiosity has gotten them into trouble.
Origin: Being too curious can lead to dangerous situations with high risk of getting hurt. It’s a well known fact, that cats like to butt in everywhere, even when they know they shouldn’t. This instinct is very often stronger than calculations. But still – cats have nine lives, don’t they?
Example: I think you want to know too much about my past. Remember, curiosity killed the cat.
Happy International Cat Day!
PS. International Cat Day (the August 8 version, at least) was started by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and you can check out their work here.