has the cat got your tongue?
Meaning: Said to someone who stays silent when they should speak.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “You've been quiet all evening. Has the cat got your tongue?”
Category: Animals
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
More idioms — Animals
- a scapegoat — Someone blamed for others' faults.
- poor as a church mouse — Extremely poor.
- the law of the jungle — A situation where the strongest or most ruthless win.
- wouldn't hurt a fly — Is very gentle and harmless.
- in borrowed plumes — Pretending to qualities or achievements that belong to someone else.
- not my circus, not my monkeys — It's not my problem, so I'm staying out of it.
More English idioms
- a load of nonsense — Something completely untrue or silly.
- all or nothing — With no middle way; everything is risked on one outcome.
- until one is blue in the face — For as long as one likes, with no result.
- an accident waiting to happen — Someone or something very likely to cause trouble or harm.
- on a wing and a prayer — Only just managing, with luck rather than means.
- welcome to the club — Said to someone who has just joined you in a shared situation, usually an unwelcome one.
From our proverbs
- Example teaches more than precept. — Demonstrating virtue through action proves far more persuasive than merely instructing ot…
- Exchange is no robbery. — A fair trade harms no one because both parties voluntarily accept the terms.
- Her face was her fortune. — Beauty alone sustained her livelihood and social position, making her appearance her prim…