like a cat in a strange garret

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

Having a feeling of uncertainty and misapprehension due to being in an unfamiliar situation.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Cảm giác bất an và hiểu lầm khi ở trong tình huống lạ

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Well, mass'r, I can't say for Lucinda and Dinah, but I should feel like a cat in a strange garret.

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 “like a cat in a strange garret” mean?

Having a feeling of uncertainty and misapprehension due to being in an unfamiliar situation.

Is “like a cat in a strange garret” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.