when the cat's away
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Ellipsis of when the cat's away, the mice will play.
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 “when the cat's away” mean?
Ellipsis of when the cat's away, the mice will play.
Is “when the cat's away” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.