Where did the catch phrase cat got your tongue come from?

The earliest use of the phrase cat got you tongue? is found in an American magazine in 1881, where it is described as a taunt used by children. One origin theory is that cat got your tongue? stems from the medieval fear of witches and their familiars, black cats.

What is the literal meaning of cat got your tongue?

cat / cat’s got your tongue: an expression that is used when someone is quiet and isn’t talking or responding when you expect them to. Notes: It isn’t clear exactly where this idiom originated but it’s obvious that it would be difficult to speak if a cat did get your tongue!

How old is the phrase cat got your tongue?

According to Oxford Journals, the earliest entry for the expression is in the Oxford English Dictionary of 1911. However, it’s estimated that the origin dates back to the Middle Ages. One legend has it that witches’ cats would “steal” a person’s speech so that the sighting could not be reported to the authorities.

What does it mean when you have a bone to pick?

Having a “bone to pick with someone” means having a grievance that needs to be talked out: “I have a bone to pick with you, Wallace; I heard how you criticized me at the meeting last night.”

What does drop of a hat mean?

See synonyms for at the drop of a hat on Thesaurus.com. Immediately, without delay, as in We were ready to pack our bags and go on vacation at the drop of a hat. This phrase probably alludes to signaling the start of a race or other contest by dropping a hat. [

What does 2 peas in a pod mean?

Definition of two peas in a pod —used to say that two people or things are very similar to each other My brother and I are two peas in a pod. We both like the same things.

What does the saying high horse mean?

Definition of high horse : an arrogant and unyielding mood or attitude.

What does the expression bury the hatchet mean?

To agree to end a quarrel: “Jerry and Cindy had been avoiding each other since the divorce, but I saw them together this morning, so they must have buried the hatchet.”

What is the meaning of an AXE to grind?

phrase. If someone has an axe to grind, they are doing something for selfish reasons. [informal, disapproval]

What does at the drop of a dime mean?

The original meaning of drop a dime is to secretly report a lawbreaker to the police, to snitch on a fellow criminal, to anonymously betray a criminal partner. The idiom drop a dime conjures the image of someone putting a dime in a payphone to call the police and betray or “rat out” a criminal.

What does getting down to the wire mean?

Definition of down-to-the-wire : full of suspense especially : unsettled until the very end.

What is the meaning of an arm and a leg?

Definition of an arm and a leg : a very large amount of money It’s a reliable car, and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Where did the saying Cats got your tongue come from?

Cat got your tongue — The phrase probably comes from a custom in the Mideast hundreds of years ago, when it was common to punish a thief by cutting off their right hand, and a liar by ripping out their tongue. These severed body parts were given to the king’s pet cats as their daily food.

What does the cat has got her tongue?

cat / cat’s got your tongue: an expression that is used when someone is quiet and isn’t talking or responding when you expect them to . It isn’t clear exactly where this idiom originated but it’s obvious that it would be difficult to speak if a cat did get your tongue!

Is the cat got her tongue a metaphor?

It was believed that if you saw a witch, her cat would somehow “steal” or control your tongue so you couldn’t report the sighting. 4 – There’s no particular logic to ‘cat got your tongue,’ except that cats have served as the object of human myth and metaphor for thousands of years.

Why do people use the term cat got your tongue?

The idiom is used to compel someone to speak, say something , or give a response when they are (unusually) quiet. It is often said by adults to children. When someone is speechless or without words (sometimes out of surprise) you will say “Cat got your tongue?” to prompt them to react.