whip the cat
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
to take out frustration on a weaker person
Examples
AI-drafted example auto-approved by rule (illustrative, not a corpus attestation)
Sources & notes
Listed in Wiktionary’s “English idioms” category (retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review. Definition drafted by AI (@cf/meta/llama-3.3-70b-instruct-fp8-fast) and auto-approved by rule on 2026-07-31; pending editor spot-check.
Sense 2
when an operative works at a private house by the day. Term used amongst tailors and carpenters.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “whip the cat” mean?
to take out frustration on a weaker person Literally: to flog a cat
Is “whip the cat” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.