a dead cat on the line

a dead cat on the line

A phrase used to describe a situation in which something is wrong. She's been acting so strange lately that I'm worried there's a dead cat on the line.
See also: cat, dead, line, on
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

dead cat on the line

Rur. [for something to be] wrong. I'm afraid there's a dead cat on the line over at Martha's place. I haven't heard from them for days. Bill has a kind of sixth sense. He can tell a dead cat on the line before anybody knows there's something wrong.
See also: cat, dead, line, on
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
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  • (as) sure as eggs (is eggs)
  • sure as eggs is eggs
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  • from my cold, dead hands
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  • Heinz 57 (variety)
  • Heinz 57 variety
  • 57