CAT

[noun] [C] - a small four-legged furry animal with a tail and claws, usually kept as a pet or for catching mice, or any member of the group of biologically similar animals such as the liona pet/stray catWe'll have to get someone to feed the cat when we're away on holiday.See picture: CatsWhen two people or groups of people play (a game of) cat and mouse with each other, they try over a long time to defeat each other, esp. when one has more power than the other.It's a real game of cat and mouse between the multinationals and the small independent companies in the software market at the moment.(UK informal) If someone hasn't a cat in hell's chance (esp. [US and ANZ] informal a snowball's chance in hell) of doing something, he or she has no chance of doing it.They haven't a cat in hell's chance of getting over the mountain in weather like this.When you say to someone 'Has the cat got your tongue?' you mean you are annoyed that they are not talking or answering your questions.Why aren't you answering me? Has the cat got your tongue?If you let the cat out of the bag, you let a secret be known, usually without intending to.He let the cat out of the bag when he mentioned the party to her - it was supposed to be a surprise.Someone who is like a cat on a hot tin roof/(esp. UK dated) like a cat on hot bricks is in a state of nervous anxiety.She's been like a cat on a hot tin roof ever since she heard he's back in town.People who fight like cat and dog disagree very strongly and often.It's awful, my brother and sister are always fighting like cat and dog.If someone looks like something the cat brought/dragged in, they look very untidy and dirty.You look like something the cat brought in - go and have a bath and tidy yourself up a bit.(UK and ANZ) To put/set the cat among the pigeons is to say or do something that causes trouble or makes a lot of people very angry.She really put the cat among the pigeons with her comments about our system of government.A cat burglar is a thief who enters and leaves a building by climbing up walls to an upper window, door, etc.A cat-o'-nine-tails/(informal) cat is a whip made from rope that has nine ends and was used esp. in the past to hit people with as a punishment.In children's games, a cat's cradle is a special pattern made by weaving string around the fingers of both hands.The structure was a cat's cradle of wires and supports.(figurative) We were stuck in a cat's cradle (= complicated amount) of legislation.(UK and ANZ) Cat's eyes (US reflectors) are small pieces of glass or plastic that are put along the middle and sometimes the sides of a road to reflect the lights of a car in order to show the driver where to drive, esp. when it is dark.(UK informal) If someone is the cat's whiskers they are important.Look at him strutting around like he's the cat's whiskers.(dated slang) A cool cat or a hep cat is a fashionable person.(saying) 'While the cat's away, the mice will play' means that when the person who is in charge of a place is not there, people there will behave badly.