guilty as a cat in a goldfish bowl
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Conspicuously guilty.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
But the prosecutor’s got you cold! You’re as guilty as a cat in a goldfish bowl!
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 “guilty as a cat in a goldfish bowl” mean?
Conspicuously guilty.
Is “guilty as a cat in a goldfish bowl” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.