{"id":2764,"date":"2025-08-08T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-08T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/?p=2764"},"modified":"2025-08-08T01:00:03","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T01:00:03","slug":"10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Useful Cat Idioms in English [Updated]"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#10_Idioms_With_%E2%80%9CCat%E2%80%9D\" >10 Idioms With &#8220;Cat&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#Copycat_n_adj\" >Copycat (n., adj.)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#Fat_cat_n\" >Fat cat (n.)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#Let_the_cat_out_of_the_bag_idiom\" >Let the cat out of the bag (idiom)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#Cat_lady_n\" >Cat lady (n.)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#Cat-and-mouse_game_idiom\" >Cat-and-mouse game (idiom)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#Like_herding_cats_idiom\" >Like herding cats (idiom)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#Catcall_n_v\" >Catcall (n., v.)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#Cool_cat_n\" >Cool cat (n.)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#Curiosity_killed_the_cat_proverb\" >Curiosity killed the cat (proverb)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#Cat_got_your_tongue_idiom\" >Cat got your tongue? (idiom)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#Wrap-up\" >Wrap-up<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>Did you know that August 8 is International Cat Day? To celebrate, we've put together this list of useful English expressions using the word \"cat\" with examples of how to use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Idioms_With_%E2%80%9CCat%E2%80%9D\"><\/span><strong>10 Idioms With &#8220;Cat&#8221;<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Copycat_n_adj\"><\/span><strong>Copycat (n., adj.)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/19082219\/cat_idioms_1-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10898\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/19082219\/cat_idioms_1-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/19082219\/cat_idioms_1-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/19082219\/cat_idioms_1-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/19082219\/cat_idioms_1-1-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/19082219\/cat_idioms_1-1-840x560.jpg 840w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Meaning: someone who does what they see someone else do<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\"Copycat\" is the most popular expression on this list. Here are a few situations when people might use it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Two children are drawing pictures. One child draws a tree and the second one decides to draw a tree too. The first child could say to the second \"You copycat!\"<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When a crime gets a lot of attention in the news, sometimes other criminals will try to do similar crimes. These are called \"copycat crimes.\"<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When a product sells very well, other companies often try to make \"copycat versions.\"<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But being a copycat isn't always a bad thing! For example, if you really like a specific dish from a famous restaurant, you might look for a \"copycat recipe,\" a recipe that tastes like the original \u2014 and sometimes even better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Related article: <a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/travel-fun\/essential-english-vocabulary-for-cooking\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Essential English Vocabulary for Cooking<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fat_cat_n\"><\/span><strong>Fat cat (n.)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Meaning: a rich and powerful person<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This term has a negative nuance since it usually refers to a person thought to have too much money and power. It comes from the idea that fat cats eat more food than other cats, which is unfair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\"Fat cat\" is often used to criticize people like CEOs, bankers and the leaders of big tech companies because people think they make more money than they deserve.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Many workers are struggling to earn enough to live while<strong> fat cats<\/strong> are becoming richer than ever!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Let_the_cat_out_of_the_bag_idiom\"><\/span><strong>Let the cat out of the bag (idiom)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"684\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/24035843\/cat_idioms_2-1024x684.jpg\" alt=\"A cat sticking its head out of a brown paper bag\" class=\"wp-image-10902\" srcset=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/24035843\/cat_idioms_2-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/24035843\/cat_idioms_2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/24035843\/cat_idioms_2-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/24035843\/cat_idioms_2-420x280.jpg 420w, https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/24035843\/cat_idioms_2-840x560.jpg 840w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Meaning: to share a secret (sometimes by accident)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Imagine that you and your friends are planning a surprise birthday party for someone, but you accidentally tell the birthday person about it. Your friends would be <a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/angry-synonyms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">angry<\/a> at you for \"letting the cat out of the bag.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>We tried to keep the party secret from Jeff, but Anna <strong>let the cat out of the bag<\/strong>.&nbsp;Our plans are ruined!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cat_lady_n\"><\/span><strong>Cat lady (n.)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Meaning: a woman who has many cats&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some people think cat ladies are crazy, which is why this expression is often used negatively. However, cat lovers who are women sometimes use the phrase to talk about themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most famous cat ladies in the world is a woman in the US who takes care of over 1,000 cats in her home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"video-responsive\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Ultimate Cat Lady: Woman Shares Her Home With 1,100 Felines\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MLhesmKn4Cs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cat-and-mouse_game_idiom\"><\/span><strong>Cat-and-mouse game (idiom)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Meaning: a situation in which one person tries to escape while another person chases them<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This idiom refers to the fact that cats will always chase mice, and mice will always try to <a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/phrasal-verbs-get\/#Get_away\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">get away<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We usually say that people \"play a game of cat and mouse\" or \"play a cat-and-mouse game.\"&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the police may play a game of cat and mouse with a criminal they're trying to find and arrest. The longer this situation continues, the more likely we are to use this idiom to describe it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Like_herding_cats_idiom\"><\/span><strong>Like herding cats (idiom)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Meaning: a situation in which it's difficult to gather people together<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you <a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/app\/words\/word\/herd\/QawFByABT26XP6uH0ZH66Q\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">herd<\/a> a group of animals, you get them to move together in the same direction. For example, farmers herd sheep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, cats are very independent; they won't let people tell them where to go. So if you have a hard time managing a group of people, you can say it's \"like herding cats\" or \"as easy as herding cats.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Getting my three kids ready for school each morning is <strong>like herding cats<\/strong>!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Catcall_n_v\"><\/span><strong>Catcall (n., v.)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Meaning (noun): loud, rude noises to get someone's attention<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Meaning (verb): making these kinds of noises<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This word was originally used to describe the sounds people made in theaters when they weren't happy with an actor on stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These days, catcalling usually refers to a kind of public harassment in which someone (usually a man) makes rude sounds at a stranger (usually a woman) on the street. This is unfortunately a problem in many big cities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Sharon gets annoyed by all the <strong>catcalls<\/strong> she gets when she's out walking her dog.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cool_cat_n\"><\/span><strong>Cool cat (n.)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Meaning: a cool person, someone you like<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This casual expression has a positive nuance and usually refers to people who have a relaxed or easy-going personality.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>You should meet my friend Max. He's a <strong>cool cat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Here's a video of former US President Barack Obama using the phrase to introduce a friend on stage:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"video-responsive\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"President Obama Speaks at the International Jazz Day Concert\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/FKgCN9UR3Ls?start=55&feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Curiosity_killed_the_cat_proverb\"><\/span><strong>Curiosity killed the cat (proverb)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Meaning: being too curious can lead to trouble<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This phrase comes from the fact that cats are curious animals, and sometimes their curiosity gets them into dangerous situations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You'll often hear this proverb used as a warning. For example, if you think that your neighbor is doing something illegal and you want to find out more, a friend might warn you by saying, \"It's better not to know. <strong>Curiosity killed the cat<\/strong>, you know!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Related article: <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/travel-fun\/english-proverbs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Words of Wisdom: 14 English Proverbs for Better Living<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cat_got_your_tongue_idiom\"><\/span><strong>Cat got your tongue? (idiom)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Meaning: \"Why aren't you talking?\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This phrase is short for \"Has the cat got your tongue?\" We use it when people are silent or have trouble responding to questions \u2014\u00a0often because they're nervous or hiding something.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"unified-block unified-chat-bubble pos-left\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-user\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/02\/22141536\/avatar_3.png\" class=\"unified-chat-bubble-avatar\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-name\">A<\/div><\/div><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-content\"><div class=\"block-align-none\">Where were you last night?<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"unified-block unified-chat-bubble pos-right\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-user\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/02\/22141702\/avatar_23.png\" class=\"unified-chat-bubble-avatar\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-name\">B<\/div><\/div><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-content\"><div class=\"block-align-none\">Umm \u2026<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"unified-block unified-chat-bubble pos-left\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-user\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/02\/22141536\/avatar_3.png\" class=\"unified-chat-bubble-avatar\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\"><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-name\">A<\/div><\/div><div class=\"unified-chat-bubble-content\"><div class=\"block-align-none\">What's wrong?<strong> Cat got your tongue?<\/strong><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p>This expression can sound rude, so be sure to use it carefully!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wrap-up\"><\/span><strong>Wrap-up<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you like cats and want to boost your language skills, take a private lesson on Engoo! You can chat with one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/tutors?search_type=all_teachers&amp;search_all%5Bnationalities%5D=&amp;search_all%5Bteacher_language%5D=en&amp;search_all%5Bstandard_tutor%5D=0&amp;search_all%5Bnative_tutor%5D=0&amp;search_all%5Bother_premium_tutor%5D=0&amp;search_all%5Bage%5D=&amp;search_all%5Bgender%5D=&amp;search_all%5Bfree_word%5D=cats&amp;all=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cat-loving tutors<\/a>, and you can even study using materials based on cats! Here are a few to get you started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/app\/daily-news\/article\/study-cats-can-connect-with-people-like-dogs\/KhZnVOm2EemmtDNkmY8u7g\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Study: Cats Can Connect with People Like Dogs<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/app\/daily-news\/article\/town-turns-washing-machines-into-cat-homes\/F5b3uuzwEeikK9ugs73tXQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Town Turns Washing Machines into Cat Homes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/app\/daily-news\/article\/australian-city-to-require-leashes-for-cats-on-public-land\/v_NUjFcIEeyN6cNUR4PyOQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Australian City to Require Leashes for Cats on Public Land<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know that August 8 is International Cat Day? To celebrate, we've put together this list of useful English expressions using the word \"cat\" with examples of how to use them. 10 Idioms With...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":160,"featured_media":10896,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"unified_meta_tagline_field":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6,9],"tags":[29],"class_list":["post-2764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-language-tips","category-travel-fun","tag-idioms"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>10 Useful Cat Idioms in English [Updated] | Engoo Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What does it mean to &quot;let the cat out of the bag&quot;? This article will explain this and nine other popular English idioms that mention cats!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"10 Useful Cat Idioms in English [Updated] | Engoo Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"What does it mean to &quot;let the cat out of the bag&quot;? This article will explain this and nine other popular English idioms that mention cats!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Engoo Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-08-08T01:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-08T01:00:03+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/24040423\/cat_idioms_caller_en.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Engoo\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Engoo\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"Article\",\"BlogPosting\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Engoo\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/e9dfcd49dbf44f24a07101345514eec2\"},\"headline\":\"10 Useful Cat Idioms in English [Updated]\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-08T01:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-08T01:00:03+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/\"},\"wordCount\":1001,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/19081759\/cat_idioms_cover.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"idioms\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Language Tips\",\"Travel &amp; Fun\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/\",\"name\":\"10 Useful Cat Idioms in English [Updated] | Engoo Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/19081759\/cat_idioms_cover.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-08T01:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-08T01:00:03+00:00\",\"description\":\"What does it mean to \\\"let the cat out of the bag\\\"? This article will explain this and nine other popular English idioms that mention cats!\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/19081759\/cat_idioms_cover.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/19081759\/cat_idioms_cover.jpg\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":1067,\"caption\":\"A gray cat standing on its hind legs\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Engoo\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Language Tips\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/category\/language-tips\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"10 Useful Cat Idioms in English [Updated]\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Engoo Blog\",\"description\":\"Tips for English Learners\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Engoo\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/04\/30111438\/engoo-logo.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/04\/30111438\/engoo-logo.svg\",\"width\":1,\"height\":1,\"caption\":\"Engoo\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/e9dfcd49dbf44f24a07101345514eec2\",\"name\":\"Engoo\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/698489651dc22ff906ed664cf6e7edc7ad204493a22054c3bce6d0d659c6315c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/698489651dc22ff906ed664cf6e7edc7ad204493a22054c3bce6d0d659c6315c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Engoo\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/author\/olgazlo\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"10 Useful Cat Idioms in English [Updated] | Engoo Blog","description":"What does it mean to \"let the cat out of the bag\"? This article will explain this and nine other popular English idioms that mention cats!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"10 Useful Cat Idioms in English [Updated] | Engoo Blog","og_description":"What does it mean to \"let the cat out of the bag\"? This article will explain this and nine other popular English idioms that mention cats!","og_url":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/","og_site_name":"Engoo Blog","article_published_time":"2025-08-08T01:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-08-08T01:00:03+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":600,"url":"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/24040423\/cat_idioms_caller_en.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Engoo","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Engoo","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["Article","BlogPosting"],"@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/"},"author":{"name":"Engoo","@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/e9dfcd49dbf44f24a07101345514eec2"},"headline":"10 Useful Cat Idioms in English [Updated]","datePublished":"2025-08-08T01:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-08-08T01:00:03+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/"},"wordCount":1001,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/19081759\/cat_idioms_cover.jpg","keywords":["idioms"],"articleSection":["Language Tips","Travel &amp; Fun"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/","url":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/","name":"10 Useful Cat Idioms in English [Updated] | Engoo Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/19081759\/cat_idioms_cover.jpg","datePublished":"2025-08-08T01:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-08-08T01:00:03+00:00","description":"What does it mean to \"let the cat out of the bag\"? This article will explain this and nine other popular English idioms that mention cats!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/19081759\/cat_idioms_cover.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2022\/08\/19081759\/cat_idioms_cover.jpg","width":1600,"height":1067,"caption":"A gray cat standing on its hind legs"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/language-tips\/10-useful-cat-idioms-in-english\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Engoo","item":"https:\/\/engoo.com"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Language Tips","item":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/category\/language-tips\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"10 Useful Cat Idioms in English [Updated]"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/","name":"Engoo Blog","description":"Tips for English Learners","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Engoo","url":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/04\/30111438\/engoo-logo.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/assets.blog.engoo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2020\/04\/30111438\/engoo-logo.svg","width":1,"height":1,"caption":"Engoo"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/e9dfcd49dbf44f24a07101345514eec2","name":"Engoo","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/698489651dc22ff906ed664cf6e7edc7ad204493a22054c3bce6d0d659c6315c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/698489651dc22ff906ed664cf6e7edc7ad204493a22054c3bce6d0d659c6315c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Engoo"},"url":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/author\/olgazlo\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/160"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2764"}],"version-history":[{"count":51,"href":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2764\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11798,"href":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2764\/revisions\/11798"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10896"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2764"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2764"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engoo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}