cat

cat [ kæt ] noun count ***

1. ) an animal with soft fur, a long thin tail, and WHISKERS, that people keep as a pet or for catching mice. A young cat is called a kitten.

a ) a wild animal that looks like a big cat, for example a lion or TIGER: BIG CAT

2. ) OLD-FASHIONED an insulting word for a woman who likes to annoy and upset other people

be the cat's pajamas/meow AMERICAN INFORMAL

to be better than everyone else

(has the) cat got your tongue? SPOKEN

used when someone does not speak when you expect them to

let the cat out of the bag

to tell someone something that was intended to be secret:

He has let the cat out of the bag about the government's true intentions.

like a cat on a hot tin roof AMERICAN INFORMAL

unable to stay still or concentrate because you are very nervous or worried

like the cat that got the cream MAINLY BRITISH

very pleased about something you have achieved

look like something the cat dragged in INFORMAL

to have a very dirty or messy appearance

put/set the cat among the pigeons MAINLY BRITISH

to cause trouble by doing or saying something

when/while the cat's away (the mice will play) HUMOROUS

used for saying that people will do what they want and have fun if someone in authority is not there

=> CAT AND MOUSE, FAT CAT, FIGHT1, RAIN 2, ROOM1