Photo: My parents' cat "Trouble"

Friday, August 8th is International Cat Day, so what better time to share some cat-related English vocabulary!

Everyone who has ever studied English knows that “raining cats and dogs” means that it’s raining heavily, but have you heard any of these other cat idioms?

“(Has the) cat got your tongue?” is a way of asking why someone isn’t speaking, especially when you expect them to speak or when you are annoyed that they are not speaking. This idiom is similar to saying “Why aren’t you saying anything?” Because this is a casual question, you can omit “Has the” and simply ask “Cat got your tongue?”

If you “let the cat out of the bag,” you accidentally/unintentionally share a secret or reveal something you were supposed to keep hidden. It’s quite similar to the idiom “spill the beans.”

“Curiosity killed the cat” is a proverb that is used to warn someone of the dangers of being too nosy, asking too many questions, or getting involved in other people’s business. This expression may be used as a threat to tell someone to mind their own business!

“Look what the cat dragged in!” can either be a good-humoured welcome to someone who just arrived or an expression of disapproval/dislike of someone who has just arrived - it really depends on your tone and your relationship with the person that you say it to! This idiom may also imply that the person who just arrived appears disheveled/dirty or that they are unwelcome (much like a dead mouse that has been dragged in by a cat). 

To “play cat and mouse” is to “engage in behaviour that is like the way a cat chases a mouse or plays with a mouse before killing it,” which often refers to using some kind of strategy to trick and defeat an enemy/opponent. A “game of cat and mouse” refers to “a situation between two people or groups in which each tries to defeat the other, either by repeated chasing and escaping, or by tricking the other into making a mistake." Although these idioms sound lighthearted, they may refer to serious situations involving police and criminals or even soldiers in a battle/war.

Time for some easy ones!

A “scaredy cat” is a person who is timid, fearful, or easily frightened. It has a negative meaning.

A “cool cat” is a person who is cool, stylish, popular, or laid-back. It has a positive meaning.

A “fat cat” is a wealthy, powerful, or influential person, especially in politics or business. It usually has a negative meaning.

Finally, a “copycat” (or “copy-cat”) is a person who imitates someone else’s words, actions, or style. It has a negative meaning.