??Did you know that long before cats and kittens[baby cats] invaded the internet with their cute and funny videos (and pictures)， these loveable creatures invaded the English language with idioms and expressions?

你晓得在小猫咪们经过它们萌萌的相片和视频侵略互联网之前，这些心爱的小生物们就现已呈如今英语口语中的各种成语与表达里了。

Actually, cats are as much a part of the English language as they are a part of your Facebook and Youtube entertainment。

实际上，正如猫咪们是你Facebook和YouTube上的重要一有些那样，它们在英语中也占有一席之地。

In my opinion, you aren’t fluent until you know at least a few cat idioms, and today we are going to teach you the thirteen most important and popular cat expressions that every English learner needs to know。

在我看来，假定你不晓得几个关于猫的习语，你就不能算是英语流利。今日咱们要教你十三个最重要且盛行的关于猫的表达，那是每一个英语学习者都需要晓得的。

1. Cat Got Your Tongue? (say something!)

你的舌头被猫给吃了吗？(说点啥吧！)

It’s very common to say “(Has a) Cat Got Your Tongue?” when you’re asking somebody why they aren’t speaking. It’s not disrespectf

ul, and is often very effective communication. This expression originates in medieval times when kings punished liars by cutting off their tongues and then feeding it to their cats。

当问或人为啥他不说话时，咱们常常说：“你的舌头被猫给吃了(吗)？”。这并不是无礼，而一般对错常有用的交流。这个表达源自中世纪国王赏罚骗子的办法，他们把骗子的舌头堵截，然后喂猫。

　2. A Copycat (a person who copies/imitates another)

盲目仿照者(抄袭/仿照别人的人)

Kids often call each other “copy cat” when somebody copies them, and adults may joke around with this too. For example, a young boy who copies his brother’s haircut may be called a copycat。

当孩子们之间有人抄袭别人的时分，他们就会称那个抄袭的人为“copy cat”。成人之间有时也会用这个开玩笑。例如，一个年青的男孩仿照他哥哥的发型就很可以被叫做“copy cat(仿照者)”。

　3. It’s Raining Cats and Dogs (it’s raining very hard)

雨下的很大

This is very commonly used to describe the weather when it’s raining hard. The origin of this expression comes from the fact that cats were once known to symbolize strong wind, and dogs symbolized rain。

这是常常用来描绘下大雨的气候的。这个表达来历于：猫早年标志强风，狗早年标志大雨。

4. Scaredy Cat/ Fraidy Cat (coward)

惧怕的猫(懦弱的人)

A fraidy or scaredy cat is someone is afraid to do something. The “y” is a diminutive used by kids. Adults may jokingly use these too. Because cats are known to back down (escape, run from) dogs, kids use this to make fun of their scared classmates。“

“A fraidy or scaredy cat”用来描绘或人惧怕做某件事。“y”这个音节常常被小孩子运用。成年人也可以用这个来开玩笑。因为，众所周知，猫会惧怕、躲避狗，所以孩子们便用这个来讪笑他们胆怯的同学。

　5. Let the Cat Out of The Bag? (accidentally tell a secret)

掀开隐秘(不经意的道出隐秘)

To let the cat out of the bag is to unintentionally ruin a secret. An example of this might be if you accidentally reveal a surprise birthday party to the person the party is for. The origin of the idiom is said to be in medieval markets when Piglets (baby pigs) were put in a bag to be sold, and every once in a while a seller would try to replace the piglet with a cat (which was cheaper)， until somebody would open the bag and let the cat out (ruining the thief’s secret)。

“let the cat out of the bag”是指无意中泄露了隐秘。举例来说，你无意中向寿星泄露了即将举办的生日派对。这个成语的由来是这样的：传闻是在中世纪的商场，小猪是被放在袋子里出售的，有一次卖方会企图将小猪换成小猫(更廉价)，假定不是有人翻开袋子，让猫跑出来(点破了市侩的隐秘)。

6. Fat Cat (rich and powerful person)

财势过人的人(有权势的人)

Fat cat is a colloquial way to describe someone who has a lot of wealth and power. If you think about a stereotypical rich person (at least traditionally)， the image may resemble a well-fed cat that is almost never skinny。

“fat cat”是口语上用来描绘那些具有许多的财富和权力的人。假定勾勒一个有钱人的典型形象(至少是传统的)，画面很可以会是一只肥硕的猫而历来不会是精瘦的猫。

7. Cat Burlgar (skilled, sneaky burglar/thief)

入室盗窃(偷盗惯犯、入室盗窃的内行)

A Cat Burglar is a thief or robber who robs somebody’s home in a silent and sneaky way. Think of a cat walking in the dark, with ninja-like movements, almost without making a noise。

“A Cat Burglar”是那种会用恬静而奸刁的方法盗窃别人家的小偷或匪徒。愿望一只在黑私自行走的猫，它有忍者般的动作，几乎不不会宣告任何动态。

　8. Cat and Mouse (to strategically chase, tease, torture)

玩猫捉老鼠的一套(奸滑的追逐，寻衅和浪费)

To cat and mouse is for somebody or something to chase the other in a very strategic, teasing, and game-like way (like a cat chasing and ing with a mouse). Think of a superhero movie when the villain is chasing an innocent person in a cruel, strategic way。

“ cat and mouse”玩猫捉老鼠的游戏，是指或人或某事用战略性的办法寻衅和追逐着其别人(就像猫在追老鼠)。愿望在一个超级英豪影片里边，反派人物在用各种残暴奸刁的方法追杀一个无辜仁慈的人。

9. Look What the Cat Dragged In! (an unpleasant surprise to see you)

看看撞上了哪只厌烦猫！(见到你真让人不爽快)

This is a way to express surprise, and sometimes disgust at a person who shows up. The person may very well haggard (exhausted, dirty, and/or not in the best shape). We may use this in an ironic tone to welcome somebody for a pleasant surprise too. If you have a cat that goes outside, you know that they bring back all kinds of unpleasant things. For example, just yesterday my cat Meru walked in with a pigeon [type of bird] in his mouth。

这是用来表达惊奇，而且有时分是厌烦的或人呈现时的表达。那自个可以对错常虚弱(筋疲力尽，龌龊，或不在最佳状况)的。咱们也可以运用这种讥讽的口吻来等待或人带给咱们的惊喜。假定你的猫走到外面，你必定晓得他们会带回林林总总龌龊的东西。例如，昨日我的猫回来的时分，嘴里含着一只鸽子。

10. Cat Fight (fight between two women)

猫打架(两个女人之间的打架)

Because women often scratch, claw, and yell when they fight, like cats do (that’s the stereotype at least)， an intense fight between two women is often called a cat fight (noun)。

因为女人打架时，常常(用指甲)划，抓，叫喊，像猫相同(这至少是呆板的典型形象)，所以两个女人剧烈地打架也常常被称作“cat fight”。

11. Cool Cat (somebody who is cool and/or popular)

酷猫(耍酷或许追逐潮流的人)

A cool cat is somebody who is hip, cool, and in style. This is basically the definition of the world cool, but that’s an adjective, so to call somebody a cool cat is like saying that he’s a hip/stylish and/or popular guy. Just like Meru in the picture up top, a cool cat is calm, content, and has everything under control。

“A cool cat”常常用来描述那些嬉皮士，耍酷炫酷和追逐潮流的人。这是对“cool”这个词的根柢界说，但这只是一个描述词，所以称或人为“cool cat”酷猫，就像是说或人是嘻哈派/有范或许很时髦的人。就如高而冷酷的猫-Meru王子(Meru是动漫作品《Keroro军曹》剧场版2－《深海的公主》中的一个人物。)，他镇定、满足而且掌控悉数。

　12. Catnap (sleep for a short period of time)

猫个盹(小睡顷刻)

To take a nap is to sleep for a little bit during the day (up to an hour maybe)， so a catnap is an even smaller and lighter period of sleep time, imitating a cat who sleeps for just a few minutes。

“take a nap”是指在白日小憩一会儿(可以最多一个小时)，所以“catnap”是指比这更短的睡觉时刻，就像猫那样只睡几分钟。

　13. Land on Your Feet (recover quickly from a bad experience or obstacle)

站稳脚(灵敏从坏的阅历或许妨碍中恢复过来)

This one doesn’t have cat in it, but it’s a clear cat metaphor, as cats are famous for landing on their feet when they fall. The same is true for people with resilience (the ability to recover quickly after difficulties) who, like cats, always seem to land on their feet。

这个俗话里边没有呈现“猫”，但却有一个显着的关于猫的隐喻，因为猫鄙人跌时是用脚着陆的。关于那些具有很强恢复力的人也相同如此，他们总能在波折之后灵敏恢复，就像猫降低相同。