Definition of cat noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

cat

noun

kæt

kæt

1 a small animal with soft fur that people often keep as a pet. Cats catch and kill birds and micecat food see also kitten, tomcat2 a wild animal of the cat familythe big cats (= lions, tigers, etc.) see also fat cat, wildcat

Idioms

be the cat's whiskers/pyjamas

(informal) to be the best thing, person, idea, etcHe thinks he's the cat's whiskers (= he has a high opinion of himself).

let the cat out of the bag

to tell a secret carelessly or by mistake

I wanted it to be a surprise, but my sister let the cat out of the bag.

like a cat on hot bricks

(British English) very nervousShe was like a cat on hot bricks before her driving test.

like a cat that's got the cream

(British English) (US like the cat that got/ate/swallowed the canary) very pleased with yourself

Synonym

smugShe looked like a cat that's got the cream. She was almost purring with pleasure.

(has the) cat got your tongue?

(informal) said to somebody, especially a child, who stays silent when expected to speak, for example after being asked a questionWhat's the matter? Cat got your tongue?

look like something the cat brought/dragged in

(informal) (of a person) to look dirty and untidy

not have/stand a cat in hell's chance (of doing something)

to have no chance at all

play (a game of) cat and mouse with somebody

play a cat-and-mouse game with somebody

to play a cruel game with somebody in your power by changing your behaviour very often, so that they become nervous and do not know what to expect

He thought the police were playing some elaborate game of cat and mouse and waiting to trap him.

put/set the cat among the pigeons

(British English) to say or do something that is likely to cause troubleThen she told them she was dropping out of college. That really set the cat among the pigeons.

when the cat's away the mice will play

(saying) people enjoy themselves more and behave with greater freedom when the person in charge of them is not there

more at curiosity killed the cat at curiosity, be raining cats and dogs at rain verb, no room to swing a cat at room noun, there's more than one way to skin a cat at way noun