cat in pan
To turn cat in pan, to change sides or parties; supposed originally to have been to turn CATE or CAKE in pan.
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Where will you be? Anywhere UK & IrelandUnited StatesOnline slangBusiness jargon
cat in the meal-tub
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
cat in the sack
something unpleasant or of poor quality that is hidden or disguised
cat lap
Tea, called also scandal broth. See SCANDAL BROTH.
cat match
When a rook or cully is engaged amongst bad bowlers.
cat o' mountain
The wild-cat; also the leopard, or panther; hence a wild, savage sort of man.
cat of nine tails
A scourge composed of nine strings of whip-cord, each string having nine knots.
cat piss
something of very poor quality
Cat Stane
The name given to certain monoliths in Scotland (there is one near Kirkliston, Linhthgow), so called from Celtic cath, a battle, because they mark the site of some battle. They are not Druidical stones.
cat sticks
Thin legs, compared to sticks with which boys play at cat. See TRAPSTICKS.
cat that ate the canary
Someone who looks smug and self-satisfied
cat's cradle
A complex or confusing situation
cat's cradle
A game played with a piece of twine by two children. The suggestion that the name is a corruption of cratch-cradle, or the manger cradle m which the infant Saviour was laid (cratch is the Fr. creche, a rack or manger), is unsupported by any evidence.
cat's eye
A gem which possesses chatoy- ancy, or a changeable lustre. The true, or precious, cat's eye is a variety of chrysoberyl. The semi-precious cat's eye is a kind of quartz.
cat's foot
To live under the cat's foot; to be under the dominion of a wife hen-pecked. To live like dog and cat; spoken of married persons who live unhappily together. As many lives as a cat; cats, according to vulgar naturalists, have nine lives, that is one less than a woman. No more chance than a cat in hell without claws; said of one who enters into a dispute or quarrel with one greatly above his match.
cat's meow
Something or someone excellent or wonderful
cat's paw
To be made a cat's paw of; to be made a tool or instrument to accomplish the purpose of another: an allusion to the story of a monkey, who made use of a cat's paw to scratch a roasted chesnut out of the fire.
cat's sleep
Counterfeit sleep: cats often counterfeiting sleep, to decoy their prey near them, and then suddenly spring on them.
cat's water
Gin.
cat's whisker
In the old-fashioned crystal wireless sets this was the name, given to the fine wire that made contact with the crystal.
cat-faced
A vulgar and very common expression of contempt in the North of England.
cat-heads
A Woman's breasts. SEA PHRASE.
cat-in-the-pan
A traitor, a turncoat—derived by some from the Greek, καταπαν, altogether; or—and more likely—from cake in pan, a pan-cake, which is frequently turned from side to side.
cat-lap
A contemptuous expression for weak drink. Anything a cat will drink is very innocuous.
catamaran
An old scraggy woman; from a kind of float made of spars and yards lashed together, for saving ship-wrecked persons.
catamaran
A disagreeable old woman.—Thackeray.
cataract
Once a black satin scarf arranged for the display of jewellery, much in vogue among "commercial gents." Now quite out of date.
catbird seat
A position of power or advantage
catch a body
to find a romantic partner
catch a break
Experience good luck or a favorable situation
catch a case
to be charged with or accused of a crime
catch a date
Succeed in arranging a social engagement with someone
catch a fade
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
catch a falling knife
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
catch a packet
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
catch a stray
To hear or notice something indirectly
catch a wave
Take advantage of an opportunity
catch air
to receive attention or publicity
catch and release
to arrest or detain someone and then immediately release them
catch as catch can
to take or deal with things as they come
catch big air
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
catch club
A member of the patch club; a bum bailiff.
catch dust
To be unused or neglected for a long time
catch fart
A footboy; so called from such servants commonly following close behind their master or mistress.
catch feelings
to develop emotional attachment or romantic feelings
catch fire
become suddenly popular or successful
catch flies
To catch someone off guard or unprepared
catch hands
to help or support someone
catch heat
Receive criticism or opposition
catch hell
Receive severe criticism or punishment
catch it
understand or hear something
catch napping
To surprise someone who is unprepared or off guard
Catch not at the shadow and lose the substance. (Strauss, 1998)
Don't prioritize a lesser benefit over a more important one
catch of the day
The most attractive or popular thing available at a particular time
catch on
become popular or understood
catch one's breath
to rest and recover after exertion
catch one's death
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
catch penny
Any temporary contrivance to raise a contribution on the public.
catch pole
A bum bailiff, or sheriff's officer.
catch red-handed
Caught in the act of doing something wrong
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