IdiomAnimals
English
Englishhas the cat got your tongue?
Meaning: Said to someone who stays silent when they should speak.
Example: “You've been quiet all evening. Has the cat got your tongue?”
Origin: A children's taunt recorded from the 19th century; the tales connecting it to Egyptian punishments or the cat-o'-nine-tails are not supported.
Equivalents in other languages
Russian: язык проглотил (yazyk proglotil) Literally: Swallowed the tongue
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