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.
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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 Now quite out of date.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
catch sight of
See something or someone briefly
catch some rays
to get some sunshine
catch some z's
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
catch someone napping
To surprise someone who is unprepared or off guard
catch someone's drift
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
catch someone's eye
attract someone's attention
catch the eye
Attract someone's attention
catch the sun
Recognized English idiom; full definition pending editorial review.
catch weights
A term in racing, wrestling or boxing, meaning without restrictions as to weight.
catch-penny
Any temporary contrivance to obtain money from the public; penny shows, or cheap exhibitions. Also descriptions of murders which have never taken place.
catch-’em-alive
A humane trap; also a small-tooth comb. A piece of paper smeared with a sweet sticky substance which is spread about where flies most abound, and in this sense not particularly humane. The CATCH-’EM-ALIVE trap for rats and other such animals is humane compared with the gin trap.
catchbet
A bet made for the purpose of entrapping the unwary by means of a paltry subterfuge. See CHERRY COLOUR.
catching harvest
A dangerous time for a robbery, when many persons are on the road, on account of a horse-race, fair, or some other public meeting.
catchy
(similar formation to touchy), inclined to take an undue advantage.
cater cap
A square cap or mortar-board. (Fr. quartier.
cater cousins
Good friends. He and I are not cater cousins, i.e. we are not even cousins in the fourth degree, or four times removed; that is, we have not the least friendly connexion.
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