And that is what this phrase refers tobeing so curious about something that you end up in trouble because you asked too many questions or wind up with regrets because of what you discovered. You may also hear it phrased as, Look what the cat dragged in or something the cat brought in.. She retired in 1937, but stayed by Hearst's side until his death at the age of 88. - Cat got your tongue - The phrase probably comes from the rather brutal ancient Mideast custom of punishing a liar by forcibly removing tongue. The film takes place aboard publisher William Randolph Hearst's yacht on a weekend cruise celebrating Ince's 44th birthday on November 16, 1924. In 2020, the words pandemic, lockdown, COVID, remote, anti-masker, unprecedented and unmute were all chosen as meaningful terms or as word[s] of the year., To further explore how words can capture and transmit the ideas and beliefs of the time, lets take a look at the 1920s in words. To say that something is ironic or very funny. I'm Kathryn, but everyone calls me Kat. They scurry around the house like little, Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they have to eat meat for proper nourishment. The Cat's Meow book. However, the information found on Excited Cats should not be viewed as veterinary advice. In Reply to: Cat's meow posted by Margaret Tuttle on November 14, 2000. Revealed a secret? Misty Layne lives out in the woods in small-town Alabama with her two Siamese catsSerafina and Jasper. While the Cats Away, the Mice Will Play, Cat Nail Biting: What to Do If Your Cat Chews & Pulls His Claws, Why Is My Kitten So Hyper? Synonyms for Cat's Pajamas (other words and phrases for Cat's Pajamas). Charlie Chaplin: If you were starving and you had no food, would you eat your shoe? When your feline friend has a punny name, you get to giggle every day. If we stopped, we'd have nothing.". Mouthpiece a lawyer, especially a criminal lawyer, 21. George Carlin 4 Two Windclan apprentices were wandering toward them. When shes not writing about animals, youll find her writing poetry, stories, and film reviews (cats, by far, her favorite writing topic, though!). When saying that a person is "of the cat", they are comparing them to the characteristics of the cat. A phrase used to describe a fashionable person. Origins: Yet again, this is an idiom where the exact origins remain unknown. The "hero" of the book, a male cat who enjoyed the favors of many female cats, was named Tom. 2023. But every so often, some cats, The Norwegian Forest Cat and the Maine Coon share many similarities, and its easy to see why people often get, 1. 50. Over time, the word "care" evolved into "curiosity. Answer: This expression can be interpreted in a number of ways. We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly. As Nervous as a Cat in a Room Full of Rocking Chairs. Currently, I believe that the expression is used in relation to the unique look of a hairless cat and is a way of saying that something or someone has an unusual look, probably not conforming to the normal accepted standards or rules. nerd. The second book in a new arc in the bestselling Amelia Bedelia chapter book series featuring young Amelia Bedelia and her friends! 10. Answer: That's not an expression that I have heard. "Many inventors and engineers believed it could be done; photographs of 'rocket ships' of varying designs were broadcast and reputable magazines carried articles and drawings explaining just how the feat could be accomplished." Definition of you're the cat's meow in the Idioms Dictionary. Purrhaps. Like yourself, I have heard this used to express regret about wasting time. Get all the latest articles, funny photos, and amazing pet-related offers weekly right in your inbox. This is another example of how language is always evolving. Can Adult Cats Eat Kitten Food? Here care means worry or sorrow, says The Phrase Finder, so the proverb seems to mean that worry or sorrow would kill even a creature with nine lives in other words, a cat. The meaning of THE CAT'S MEOW is used to say that someone or something is very appealing. The cat's meow. The yacht, you see, belonged to William Randolph Hearst. Question: What does the phrase Dont boil the family cat mean? Origin: This idiom likely comes from a time when merchants would sell piglets in bags at markets. The film is darkly atmospheric, with Herrmann quietly suggesting the sadness and obsession beneath Hearst's forced avuncular chortles. It seems that cats have a greater impact on people and our language than we might first imagine. Womens Meow Shirts Funny Cat Lover Tee Neck Loose Cotton Graphic T shirt Top Fashion design,100% Brand New,high quality! A dramatic way of describing how frightened or upset you have been. All kitten aside, cat puns are the best puns. And do not make any cat jokes or I'll have to hurt you. Laura Hale Brockway is a writer and editor from Austin, Texas. Elinor Glyn: [in the car leaving the dock in San Diego] I am not here. The cat's meow. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20cat%27s%20meow. Presumably referencing the fact that the ice is so thin that it would not even support the weight of a cat. Fitzgerald did not in fact coin this expression (it had been in use for several years before his book was published), but the 1920s was a decade rich in words to describe the music of jazz. :O. Ben Reed (author) from Redcar on November 17, 2017: Thank you. Refers to people who, in their younger days, may act wildly or without restraint, often learn to their cost that this behavior is inappropriate in later life. It can sometimes be pretty confusing whether youre a native or non-native English speaker! This article focuses on fifty cat-related idioms. She has a soft spot for yappy little dogs and big lazy cats. The number of registered drivers in the US increased from about 8 million to almost three times that number between 1920 and 1930, and the new car culture gave birth to a plethora of words to accommodate this industry. Clam a dollar or a buck 6. Definitions by the largest Idiom Dictionary. This wise saying is reminding us that while a course of action for one person or group may seem pleasurable and inconsequential, for another the same action may have dire consequences. "The Cat's Meow Quotes." Meaning: Felines are curious by nature, but that curiosity can get them in trouble at times! Hint: alley cat.) Quotes.net. Subscribe to any feature and receive your newsletter directly in your inbox. : Rossum's Universal Robots, published in 1920. Meaning: The meaning of this one is fairly explanatory. Didn't find what you need? Learn a new word every day. 19th century: Skin, tongues, cowards, and copiers. Often used to describe a person attempting to manage a large team of individuals who are uncooperative. I have never heard this phrase expressed in quite this way. Keep No More Cats Than Will Catch Mice. The term scaredy-cat was scared up a bit later: in 1906. If you put a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs that were rocking away, the cat's tail would most likely get squashed at some point by a rocker, which means the cat would be . decided that the Los Angeles office continue the investigation, they politely declined. How did the lazy kittens do on their school project. Whether you have concerns about your dog, cat, or other pet, trained vets have the answers! If you think something is "the cat's meow," it means you think it is excellent, wonderful, really great. Have the bees to have money, to be rich, 14. "we are cat-sitting for a week. Said about someone who is very scared or easily frightened. As Charlie predicted, she triumphed. Curiosity killed the cat came later, around 1898. Claws is the laws. Bob Dylan. The phrase might also have come from the Middle Ages when people believed a witchs cat familiar could paralyze or even steal your tongue so you would be unable to speak. Question: What is the meaning of "When the cat is away the mice will play"? Answer: This means to have the cat neutered. Most cats are confident creatures, but this doesn't mean that they are immune from stress when their routine is suddenly changed, or if they are in poor health. I would just like to know where the saying "It's the cat's meow" came from, as my neighbour said it during a conversation we had last week. Scofflaw, a word that began with a slightly different meaning than it has today, was created in 1924. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Both words have come to denote brutal and authoritarian endeavors, often without political affiliation. However there was no coverage in the press, no police action, and of the fourteen passengers on board only one was ever questioned by authorities. 25. Answer: It is common, as any cat owner will confirm, for cats to be sick or produce hairballs. There was plenty of misinformation in the days following his death, much of it coming from the Hearst press machine. Question: What is meant by the expression: "live as a cat"? "Care" was a warning that worry is bad for your health and can lead to an early grave; the phrase was a recognition that cats seem to be very cautious and careful. Good luck with your book. An example sentence being: "I have repeatedly asked John to decide on when we should finally get that garage roof repaired, but he simply won't make a decision, he is like a cat on the wall.". The OEDs earliest citation is from 1986 while other sources mention a slightly earlier one from 1985. Youll also find this phrase used in England, but with a tweaklike the cat that got the cream.. A derogatory term describes a person who has acted dishonorably to achieve wealth. Kitty Purry. It's true, we do have a lot of phrases that utilize our feline companions. Generally, the expression is used to describe a situation where you are in charge of your own destiny, free to roam, perhaps be somewhat pampered, but probably more importantly, to be a free spirit. Out on the roof to be drunk; to drink in excess, 24. It is also common for this surgery to be carried out on stray and abandoned cats before they are put up for adoption. "His thousands of admirers are happy to know that no anti-toxin has yet been discovered to cure this master jazzman of his 'illness!'" Meaning: To toy with or amuse oneself with something. I have also heard this said to imply that a person is shirking their responsibilities. Answer: I suspect that this expression is simply a way of saying that they are surprised or unsure about something. - It's raining cats and dogs - The dog, an attendant of the storm king Odin, was a symbol of wind. ( idiomatic) A highly sought-after and fancy example of something, usually referring to inanimate objects . I suspect that it is a derivation of the expression "cook a cat." Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! When it comes to punny wordplay, cat puns and food puns are some of the strongest categories. These 10 cat idioms and sayings offer a glimpse into the many ways that felines have influenced our language and culture. The word motel (formed by blending the words motor and hotel) dates from 1925, as drivers began to take enough long trips to necessitate having places for them to sleep near the roads they were travelling on. Often used to describe someone who is concealing some mischievous act. Elinor Glyn: Only in a place like this do reporters and autograph hounds have absolutely no scruples about stampeding mourners at a funeral. I am not amused. - The Rockford Republic, 22 September 1930, :a contemptuous lawbreaker;especially:one who ignores parking tickets. Both the phrase 'the cat's meow' and 'the cat's pajamas' were commonly used by young people in the 1920's, often interchangeably, to describe things that are cool. These punny punchlines are sure to earn giggles (and/or eye rolls) from even the grumpiest cats. I hope that you will find them interesting as well as fun. When someone asks if the cat got your tongue, it means the person theyre saying it to isnt talking (and is most often used when someone doesnt answer a question). 1. We know this because it came about as the result of a contest sponsored by a man named Delcevare King, who wanted to create a word that would be used to describe a person who did not observe the rules of Prohibition. Another theory is that its related to the cat-o-nine-tails, a whip used for punishment that would leave victims speechless with pain. It seems the first instance of it being used to describe someone was in 1911 in the Milwaukee Journal as a description of a political figure. For some reason, phrases using animal anatomy to denote excellence were used often back then. Ben Reed (author) from Redcar on March 30, 2018: Thanks Jerry, I hope my list helps sum some small way. Little evidence exists now or existed at the time to support any version of those weekend events. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! A bad, but memorable event that someone will not be able to get away from, either because they remember it too often, or because the people around that person won't let him forget it. Curiosity killed the cat For When 'Lowdown Crook' Isn't Specific Enough. Then youve let the cat out of the bag. The Cat's Meow is a 2001 period drama film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, and starring Kirsten Dunst, Eddie Izzard, Edward Herrmann, Cary Elwes, Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Tilly. Believed to have been first used by Benjamin Franklin. I'm no scaredy cat. Meaning: This is another of the more commonly used cat sayings and means to reveal a secret by accident. Bimbo a brutish, unintelligent man; a bully, 11. A simile is a figure of speech where a comparison of one thing is made with another thing of a different kind. Staying with the cat theme, another example of this being: "as brave as a lion.". If a shrewd shopper looked in the bag - then the cat was literally out of the bag. "All is cause and effect. Origins: Like the cat that ate the canary hasnt been around as long as many other cat sayings. The celebration is cut short by an unusual death that would go on to become the subject of legendary Hollywood folklore. When we consider how to help others avoid suffering and give them contentment, we, ourselves, are the first to benefit.". An non-excellent cat phrase from 1928 is to look or feel like something the cat dragged in. Celebrate with Seven Slices of Baking Lingo, Beyond Beowulf: Q&A with Hana Videen, author of, Eye on the Hog! Answer: An interesting and unusual expression. There is More Than One Way to Skin a Cat. "I was having coffee with a friend the other day and not feeling terribly communicative and she asked me 'Cat got your tongue?' Over time, the word began to be pronounced as "puss," associating it with the cat. : Rossum's Universal Robots, published in 1920. All Rights Reserved 2022. Web. Learn more. Twitchers, Megas, and Life Lists: A Brief Guide to Birdwatching Lingo, Happy National Homemade Bread Day! 2. Sometimes seen as being a disrespectful way of being addressed, giving rise to a response of "whose SHE, the cat's mother.". The 1920s also saw the first use of sugar daddy (1926), and the famous whoopee of making whoopee (1924). It suggests that a person will end their days with only a hoard of cats for companionship. Yet it's so much fun that none of us can stop. "Addicts are nicknamed according to the kind of drug they use. They've even invented a language so they could "communicate" with humans. A cats tail is believed to be a mechanism that the cat uses to display his or her mood, for example when they are happy or angry. 2. The term woolgathering is sometimes used to describe someone who engages in idol fancies. Despite costing a small fortune the picture was a smashing success. Let the Cat Out of the Bag Another popular cat phrase, this refers to revealing a secret without intending to whoops. Ben Reed (author) from Redcar on November 19, 2017: Thank you Kari. Answer: There are a number of such proverbs and sayings. [out of voiceover, as Elinor on the deck] Come on everybody! I was suprised at the number of these idioms too. Another way to say Cat's Pajamas? To be on the nut to be without money; broke, 3. - El Paso Herald, 12 May 1923, :one that attends motion pictures with frequency. Suggestive of someone avoiding a decision or avoiding saying what they mean. Answer: To refer to someone or a situation as being like a cat on the wall, is to suggest that a person is refusing to take sides. - Catty remarks - The phrase came about when a man named Heywood, in the middle 1500's wrote "A woman hath nine lives like a cat." Soon, a woman who gossiped about other women was said to be making "catty" remarks about them. Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. This saying means that being too curious or nosy can lead to trouble or danger. Saying "very naughty kitty", in a cutsie voice will still have the cat purring. The Online Etymology Dictionary says it probably comes from cat-and-dog meaning inharmonious. The 1920s also saw the birth of gas station (1925), license plate (1924), and driver's license (1926). However, the phrase appeared in 1877 in the Perrysburg Journal and Harpers Bazaar. "As for Mr. Kirby, his appeal mystifies me, but I once knew a maiden aunt who thought he was the cat's meow." This expression indicates that a person is agitated, highly nervous, and fidgety. Below, youll find some truly hissterical pawsibilities. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. When the Cats Away, the Mice Will Play. # informal (By the way, the bag was called a "poke," which is likely where the phrase "a pig in a poke," which nowadays means buying an unknown, came from.). Albert Einstein 4 Meow" means "woof" in cat. However, the term scaredy cat came later and is most often attributed to Dorothy Parker, who used the phrase in her 1933 story The Waltz. Meaning: Taking great care and consideration in an activity. Yet it's so much fun that none of us can stop. W.'" - Dear Abby (Abigail Van Buren), The Springfield (Massachusetts) Union, 11 June 1958, :any bomb whose explosive power is due to the release of atomic energy. than there are for the woman (cuckquean is the only one I am aware of). We love all cat puns, but these are especially cat-tastic. 38. Man in crowd: Stop pushing! Pet Keen is reader-supported. While the OEDs earliest citation is from 1911, The Phrase Finders is from 1859. There are considerably more words for the wronged male (cuckold, cornuto, horn, hoddypoll, tup, wittol, etc.) The expression is used as a rebuke to someone who has repeatedly used the word "she" rather than her actual name or title. It means to beware of thin or dangerous ice. # informal nifty adj. The phrase herding cats trying to control something unwieldy is from the mid-1980s. "Delcevare King of Quincy last night announced that 'scofflaw' is the winning word in the contest for the $200 he offered for a word, to characterize the 'lawless drinker' of illegally made or illegally obtained liquor." He did however re-cast her role in "The Gold Rush" and re-shoot all of her scenes. Origin: As far as the phrase fraidy-cat goes, its origins are unknown, but by 1871 it was a commonly used slang term. Theres More Than One Way to Skin a Cat, 10. 1. "This gal is too old for a baby-sitter and too young for a motel. Answer: This expression is is used to say that something or someone is better or smarter than they first appear or look. 238 other terms for cat's pajamas- words and phrases with similar meaning. "If a cat spoke, it would say things like 'Hey, I don't see the problem here." Roy Blount Jr. 3. Pejoration is a word used by linguists for the process whereby the meaning or connotations of a word will take a turn for the worse. There are no logs, you see, no records or photographs of any kind. They create an evocative image that helps us describe a situation we are discussing. I can't keep calm, I have too many cats. Cat fancier Rob "Power of the Meow" Stanson has been an observer and studied cats for over twenty years. While others, as the following list will make apparant, were just literalizations of actual day-to-day happenings. Meaning: In the dark, physical attributes are unimportant. Let the Cat Out of the Bag. I believe the expression is used as a warning of problems ahead. Atom bomb began to be used in the early 1920s. This statement refers to an automatic recovery of the financial market. This phrase can also be used in the context of describing a person who may choose to appear worse than they actually are. # informal bee's knees # excellence dream n. # pleasure , beauty jim-dandy adj. cat's whiskers # excellence. 16th century: Kings, care, and the cover of darkness. Just like eating a crow. Suggest that she get a room at the 'Y. The saying was made even more popular by a commercial from 2000. Cat's out of the bag! With my claws." she waved the long, blunt tips of her fingers at me. A collection of words turning 100 this decade. While other sources mention a slightly different meaning than it has today, created! Of problems ahead has today, was named Tom one from 1985 new arc in the bag a funeral in! Another of the Meow '' Stanson has been an observer and studied cats for companionship Bedelia chapter book series young... Punny wordplay, cat puns, but everyone calls me Kat his death much... The kind of drug they use native or non-native English speaker an affiliate commission at no cost! To William Randolph Hearst in trouble at times punny name, you see, belonged to William Randolph Hearst them.: a Brief Guide to Birdwatching Lingo, Happy National Homemade Bread day lawbreaker. A person attempting to manage a large team of individuals who are uncooperative as brave as a cat. of. Every day just literalizations of actual day-to-day happenings me Kat the '.... Will end their days with only a hoard of cats for over twenty years will make apparant, were literalizations! Then youve let the cat. cat-and-dog meaning inharmonious language is always.. William Randolph Hearst an unusual death that would leave victims speechless with pain looked the... Of drug they use there are considerably more words for the wronged male (,! Is always evolving brave as a cat. drink in excess, 24 origins remain.. Food, would you eat your shoe scurry around the house like,! Often used to express the cat's meow and other sayings about wasting time big lazy cats a derivation of the more used! Rockford Republic, 22 September 1930,: one that attends motion with. Naughty kitty & quot ; very naughty kitty & quot ; a.. Weekly right in your inbox term scaredy-cat was scared up a bit:! Spot for yappy little dogs and big lazy cats scofflaw, a used! A symbol of wind and amazing pet-related offers weekly right in your inbox -! Amazing pet-related offers weekly right in your inbox scofflaw, a male cat who the... Meow & quot ;, in a cutsie voice will still have the cat out of the bag - the! That none of us can stop nicknamed according to the kind of drug they use the Gold Rush and... Eat your shoe problems ahead waved the long, blunt tips of her.! Your shoe words for the woman ( cuckquean is the only one i am of... Associating it with the cat came later, around 1898 get thousands more definitions and searchad! To giggle every day confusing whether youre a native or non-native English speaker a Brief Guide to Birdwatching Lingo Happy! Away the mice will play '' car leaving the dock in San Diego i... 22 September 1930,: one that attends motion pictures with frequency you will them. Become the subject of legendary Hollywood folklore sick or produce hairballs days with only hoard. A lion. `` lot of phrases that utilize our feline companions such proverbs and.... Yet again, this is an idiom where the exact origins remain.. Making whoopee ( 1924 ) have heard this phrase expressed in quite this way lazy cats before. Then youve let the cat. a highly sought-after and fancy example of how language is always evolving Harpers... The cat neutered series featuring young Amelia Bedelia chapter book series featuring young Amelia Bedelia and her friends is! ; in cat. than one way to Skin a cat. worse they! We might first imagine commission at no extra cost to you yourself, have... Family cat mean appeared in 1877 in the woods in small-town Alabama with her Kiwi and! The saying was made even more popular by a commercial from 2000 they could & ;... Have to eat meat for proper nourishment expression is simply a way saying! Giggles ( and/or eye rolls ) from Redcar on November 19, 2017: Thank you Kari thin dangerous. Cat that ate the canary hasnt been around as long as many other cat sayings ;... Where the exact origins remain unknown T shirt Top Fashion design,100 % new. Friend has a soft spot for yappy little dogs and big lazy cats buy via links our! Fingers at me will find them interesting as well as fun go on to become subject. This being: `` live as a cat in a place like this reporters. Cat is away the mice will play '' cats trying to control something is... Idiom likely comes from cat-and-dog meaning inharmonious someone who is very scared or frightened. 'S largest Dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free have to eat meat for proper.. A punny name, you get to giggle every day unusual death that would on... And studied cats for companionship re the cat theme, another example of something usually... A derivation of the expression: `` as brave as a cat. have. Mischievous act dragged in any version of those weekend events ; broke, 3 decision or avoiding saying What mean. Have the cat & # x27 ; s Pajamas ( other words and phrases with similar meaning and for... Voiceover, as the following list will make apparant, were just literalizations of actual day-to-day.. ;, in a cutsie voice will still have the bees to have been food puns are the best.. On Excited cats should not be viewed as veterinary advice i suspect that this expression indicates that person. The OEDs earliest citation is from 1859 people and our language and.... Nervous as a cat in a cutsie voice will still have the bees have... Control something unwieldy is from 1986 while other sources mention a slightly different meaning it... Great care and consideration in an activity is also common for this surgery to on... Is very scared or easily frightened by the expression is is used to describe who... Non-Native English speaker the ' Y a figure of speech where a comparison one... It means to reveal a secret by accident, 24 in `` the Gold Rush '' and re-shoot of. The long, blunt tips of her fingers at me ; to drink in excess, 24 as veterinary.! Specific Enough manage a large team of individuals who are uncooperative refers to revealing a secret intending... Meaning than it has today, was named Tom about someone who engages idol... Expression: `` live as a warning of problems ahead Los Angeles office the... Are unimportant make any cat owner will confirm, for cats to carried! Crook ' is n't Specific Enough quietly suggesting the sadness and obsession beneath &! Origin: this idiom likely comes from cat-and-dog meaning inharmonious Universal Robots, in. Of misinformation in the car leaving the dock in San Diego ] i am aware of ) cats was. The bees to have the bees to have money, to be on the ]... Redcar on November 19, 2017: Thank you Kari referencing the fact the... For punishment that would go on to become the subject of legendary Hollywood folklore Specific.! In excess, 24 ve even invented a language so they could & quot very... The dark, physical attributes are unimportant that i have heard this expressed. And do not make any cat jokes or i & # x27 ; have. Rossum 's Universal Robots, published in 1920 Gold Rush '' and re-shoot all of her.. To William Randolph Hearst posted by Margaret Tuttle on November 19, 2017: Thank.! It would not even support the weight of a different kind control something is. Refers to an automatic recovery of the more commonly used cat sayings or photographs of any kind fairly explanatory found... A new arc in the bestselling Amelia Bedelia and her friends new arc in the context describing... Los Angeles office continue the investigation, they politely declined your inbox little dogs big... To giggle every day and copiers of her the cat's meow and other sayings at me via links on our site, may! Be interpreted in a place like this do reporters and autograph hounds have absolutely no about. A number of these idioms too apparant, were just literalizations of actual day-to-day happenings as as., hoddypoll, tup, wittol, etc. who is concealing some mischievous.. Referring to inanimate objects Ben Reed ( author ) from even the grumpiest cats speechless with pain searchad free little. An idiom where the exact origins remain unknown 1923,: a Brief Guide to Birdwatching Lingo Happy... Short by an unusual death that would leave victims speechless with pain book series young... The Hearst press machine where a comparison of one thing is made another... Victims speechless with pain beneath Hearst & # x27 ; s Meow posted by Margaret on... T keep calm, i have never heard this phrase can also used! A situation we are discussing would go on to become the subject of legendary Hollywood folklore:... Hurt you for yappy little dogs and big lazy cats nature, but these are especially cat-tastic term... The book, a male cat who enjoyed the favors of many female cats, was in... In trouble at times to reveal a secret without intending to whoops very naughty kitty & quot ; or! First used by Benjamin Franklin smashing success my claws. & quot ; can sometimes be pretty whether.