As I mentioned at the end of our idiom contest, there are tons of idioms about animals. One of the most popular idioms, which I was unfamiliar with, is “as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs.” At least six people sent that one in. Here are a few other ones for you about kitties.
| Idiom | Meaning and Notes |
| Pick of the litter | The best of a group of things. Alluding to a litter of dogs or cats. Previously “pick of the market,” “pick of the parish,” “pick of the basket.” |
| Fight like cats and dogs | Argue violently all of the time |
| Let the cat out of the bag | Reveal a secret by accident |
| Curiosity killed the cat. | Being nosy about other people’s activities could get you into trouble. |
| It’s raining cats and dogs. | Raining heavily |
| As nervous as a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs | Extremely nervous |
| Nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof | Really anxious |
| Looking like the cat that swallowed the canary | Very pleased with oneself or what one has done/accomplished |
| More than one way to skin a cat | More than one way to accomplish something |
| Cat’s meow | Something really special/good |
| Higher than a cat’s back | Very tall; very high |
Kara Church
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