black cat
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To do better than another in some respect; to one up.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The team name derives from the Lynx wildcat of 702 Naval Air Squadron’s badge and also the naval slang of “Black Catting” which implies having done or owned something better than anyone else.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “black cat” mean?
To do better than another in some respect; to one up.
Is “black cat” formal or informal?
black cat is generally slang.