look like something the cat dragged in
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To have a very dishevelled or untidy appearance.
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “look like something the cat dragged in” mean?
To have a very dishevelled or untidy appearance.
Is “look like something the cat dragged in” formal or informal?
look like something the cat dragged in is generally informal.