释义 |
cat Theme: GOSSIP n. a gossipy woman.She is such a cat!Mary can be such a cat, you know. Theme: MAN n. a fellow; a guy; a dude.Now, this cat wants to borrow some money from me. What should I do?Ask the cat what he's got for security. Theme: VOMIT in. to empty one's stomach; to vomit.I think I'm gonna cat.Looks like somebody catted in the bushes.
cat 1. noun 1 a man US, 1920. 2 a black person US, 1972. 3 a spiteful, gossiping woman. A back-formation from CATTY (spiteful, sly) UK, 1950. 4 the vagina UK, 1720. 5 a passive homosexual male; any male homosexual. In prison 'cats' are 'young prisoners who, though usually heterosexual prior to incarceration, submit to the passive role in homosexual relations in prison'. But also in prison 'cat' is used to refer to known homosexuals who are often segregated from other inmates. Outside of prison the term is used generally of homosexual men: perhaps an extension of the meaning as 'a woman'. The suggestion that it is a shortening of 'catamite' has no supporting evidence AUSTRALIA, 1950. 6 a lion; a tiger; a leopard. Circus usage, usually in the plural UK, 1953. 7 in circus and carnival usage, a trouble-making southern rustic US, 1981. 8 a poorly performing racing greyhound AUSTRALIA, 1989. 9 in poker, a nonstandard hand such as the 'little cat', 'big cat', etc US, 1988. 10 heroin US, 1993. 11 methcathinone US, 1995. 12 a category UK, 1984. 13 a Caterpillar™ tractor or other type of heavy equipment US, 1918. 14 a catalytic converter, an emissions-control device US, 1993. 15 a hydraulic catapult on an aircraft carrier US, 1962. 16 a catamaran UK, 1984. 17 a boat of any description UK, 1961.► let the cat out of the bagto disclose a secret UK, 1760.► on the catstaying away from home at night US, 1965.► on the cat hopin railway slang, on time US, 1946.► put a cat among the pigeons; set the cat among the pigeonsto stir up trouble UK, 1976.► something the cat dragged in; something the cat has brought inused as the epitome of someone who is bedraggled UK, 1928 2. verb 1 to stay away from home overnight, prowling for sin. From the alleycat as a role model for behaviour US, 1949. 2 to pursue someone in the hopes of sexual relations US, 1946
Cat noun a Cadillac car US, 1945
idiomcat► the cat's whiskers► there's more than one way to skin a cat► not have a cat in hell's chance not have a chance/hope in hell (of)(has the) cat got your tongue?spoken said when someone will not answer you or talk to you ◆ often used by adults talking to children:"Did she like it?" "Dunno." "Did you speak to her?" "Dunno." "Cat got your tongue?" "No."copy cat1 like/similar used about a crime, attack etc that is done in order to be similar to a recent and famous crime or attack:After the girl was assaulted, there was a series of copy cat attacks in the area.Police are not releasing many details about the murder in order to prevent any copy cat killings.2 like/similarspoken said by children when they are annoyed because someone tries to be the same, or do the same things, as they do:"I've drawn a boat." "Copy cat, so've I!"fat catpower used about someone who is rich and powerful and uses their position and their wealth in a way that seems unfair to you:Are the fat cats who make planes like Harrier jets telling us when and where we should go to war?Foxx had been ill-treated in his early days in show business, which was the reason he made unusual demands of the fat cats who employed him when he became a star.fat-cat: Every year, millions of dollars are given by fat-cat contributors to media campaigns that appeal to fear and racism.fight like cat and dog BrEBrEfight like cats and dogs AmEif people who know each other well fight like cat and dog, they keep quarrelling or arguing, and get very angry with each other:We fought like cat and dog, the whole time we were married.Like members of any close-knit family, they fight like cats and dogs at times, but they care for each other.grin/smile like a Cheshire cat(also smile a Cheshire cat smile)smile to have a big smile on your face, so that you look silly or too pleased with yourself:Michael looked at the man, his fat ugly face grinning like a Cheshire cat's, and felt like smashing his fist into his teeth.Glover's career is doing well, but he knows better than to say anything too cocky. He just smiles that Cheshire cat smile and looks away.let the cat out of the bagto let people know something that is a secret, or that they are not supposed to know until later, especially without intending to do this:With one unguarded sentence, the Minister let the cat out of the bag about the government's intentions.We tried hard to keep my little sister from letting the cat out of the bag, but she's too young to understand about surprises.the cat is out of the bag: Now that the cat is out of the bag, we should make a full policy statement as soon as possible.like a cat on hot bricks BrEBrElike a cat on a hot tin roof AmEin a way that shows you are very nervous or anxious:What's the matter? You've been like a cat on hot bricks all night.Anna was pacing the apartment like a cat on a hot tin roof.like the cat that ate the canary(also like the cat that got the cream BrE)happy used about someone who is very pleased about something that they have done or something that has happened to them:Coop grinned like the cat that ate the canary as he told us about the game.He's like the cat that's got the cream this morning. He had a big tax rebate, fifteen hundred quid! sb looks like something the cat brought/dragged inspoken used in order to say that someone looks very untidy or ill, and unattractive:Sit down and have a rest - you look like something the cat brought in.They looked at me as if I was something the cat had dragged in.play cat and mouse (with sb)(also play a cat and mouse game)1 if two people or groups are playing cat and mouse, one person or group is trying to find the other one, and the other one is trying not to be found:Police spent the weekend playing cat and mouse with protesters on the site of the proposed new dam.For two years, the hackers played an electronic cat and mouse game with FBI agents.2 to pretend that you will let someone get or do what they want, and then prevent them from getting it or doing it:The managers were playing cat and mouse - they said they'd only negotiate with Tom, then when Tom arrived they changed their minds.So far, offers to release the hostages are only part of an elaborate game of cat and mouse.set/put the cat among the pigeonsto cause trouble by doing or saying something that surprises and upsets people, or causes a lot of arguments:I got a fax from head office this morning, and it seems we've put the cat among the pigeons.It was O'Connor's statement on abortion that really put the cat among the pigeons.when the cat's away (the mice will play)used in order to say that when someone in authority is not there, people can enjoy themselves or do what they want:Mike was off today, it's been good - when the cat's away the mice will play.We ought to do a bit of work this afternoon, even though the cat's away.you could not swing a cat(also not enough room to swing a cat)smallspoken used in order to say that a room is very small, or has too many things in it:In 1973, I was living in Dublin in a teeny bedsit with three other women. It was the kind of place in which you could not swing a cat.We were given a room with just a bed, a washbasin, and a cupboard. There wasn't enough room to swing a cat in there. phrasecat[catted, catted, catting] cat around cat around AmE old-fashioned informal to have sex with a lot of different people: Mike just cats around and never gets serious with any woman.■ SIMILAR TO: screw around informal, sleep around informal
cat1. n. a fellow; a guy; a dude. Now, this cat wants to borrow some money from me. What should I do? 2. in. to empty one’s stomach; to vomit. Looks like somebody catted in the bushes. 3. n. a gossipy woman. Mary can be such a cat, you know. See:- (as) conceited as a barber's cat
- (Has the) cat got your tongue?
- (well,) dog my cats
- a cat can look at a king
- a cat has nine lives
- a cat in gloves catches no mice
- a cat may look at a king
- a cat nap
- a cat on a hot tin roof
- a dead cat bounce
- a dead cat on the line
- a fat cat
- a kick at the cat
- all cats are gray after dark/at night
- all cats are gray in the dark
- all cats are grey at night
- all cats are grey by night
- all cats are grey in the dark
- alley cat
- as much chance as a wax cat in hell
- be grinning like a Cheshire cat
- be like a cat on a hot tin roof
- be like a cat on hot bricks
- be like herding cats
- be the cat's whiskers
- bell the cat
- bell the cat, who will
- black as a skillet
- busy as a beaver
- cat
- cat and mouse
- cat and mouse, game of/to play
- cat can look at a king
- cat got one's tongue
- cat got your tongue, has the
- Cat got your tongue?
- cat has nine lives
- cat ice
- cat in gloves catches no mice
- cat in the meal-tub
- cat in the sack
- cat on a hot tin roof
- cat on a hot tin roof, like a
- cat that swallowed the canary, (look) like the
- cat-and-dog life
- cat-and-mouse game
- cats and dogs
- cat's claw
- cat's cradle
- cat's meow
- cat's pajamas
- cat's paw
- cat's paw, (be made) a
- cat-soup
- cat's-paw
- Cheshire cat
- conceited as a barber's cat
- cool cat
- Curiosity killed the cat
- dead cat bounce
- dead cat on the line
- emotional support dog/cat/etc.
- enough to make a cat laugh
- faster than a cat lapping chain lightning
- fat cat
- fat-cat
- feel as if a cat has kittened in (one's) mouth
- fight like cat and dog
- fight like Kilkenny cats
- fix
- fraidy cat
- grin like a Cheshire cat
- has the cat got your tongue?
- herd cats
- it's raining cats and dogs
- It's raining pitchforks
- keep no more cats than can catch mice
- lead a cat and dog life
- let the cat out of the bag
- let the cat out of the bag, to
- like a cat in a strange garret
- like a cat on a hot tin roof
- like a cat on hot bricks
- like a scalded cat
- like herding cats
- like something the cat brought in
- like something the cat brought/dragged in
- like something the cat dragged in
- like the cat that got the cream
- like the cat that got, stole, etc. the cream
- like the cat that stole the cream
- like the cat that's got the cream
- live under the cat's foot
- Look at what the cat dragged in!
- look like something the cat brought in
- look like something the cat dragged in
- look like the cat dragged in
- look like the cat that ate the canary
- look like the cat that swallowed the canary
- Look what the cat dragged in!
- look what the cat('s) dragged in
- look what the cat's dragged in
- mad enough to kick a cat
- more than one way to skin a cat
- more than one way to skin a cat, there's
- no room to swing a cat
- not a cat in hell's chance
- not enough room to swing a cat
- not have a cat in hell's chance
- painted cat
- play cat and mouse
- play cat and mouse with
- purr like a cat
- put (an animal) down
- put (one) out of (something or some place)
- put down (an animal)
- put the cat among the pigeons
- put/set the cat among the pigeons
- rain cats and dogs
- raining cats and dogs, it's
- scaredy-cat
- see which way the cat jumps
- set the cat among the pigeons
- shoot the cat
- sling out
- sling the cat
- smile like a Cheshire cat
- smiling like a Cheshire cat
- that cat won't jump
- the cat has got someone's tongue
- the cat is out of the bag
- the cat that ate the canary
- the cat that swallowed the canary
- the cat would eat fish, but would not wet her feet
- the cat's got (one's) tongue
- the cat's pajamas
- the cat's whiskers
- the cat's whiskers/pyjamas
- there are many ways to skin a cat
- there's more than one way to skin a cat
- throw the cat among the pigeons
- wanton kittens make sober cats
- weak as a kitten
- well, dog my cats
- when the cat's away
- when the cat's away (the mice will play)
- when the cat's away the mice will play
- When the cat's away, the mice will play
- whip the cat
- who will bell the cat
- Who's she, the cat's mother?
- who's she—the cat's mother?
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