IdiomAnimals
English
Englishkick the cat
Meaning: To take out one's anger on someone weaker or innocent.
Example: “Don't kick the cat just because your boss yelled at you.”
Origin: From the image of a man scolded at work who comes home and kicks the cat. The phrase is common from the 20th century and is used in psychology to describe displaced anger.
Equivalents in other languages
Korean: 종로에서 뺨 맞고 한강 가서 눈 흘긴다 (Jongno-eseo ppyam matgo Hangang gaseo nun heulginda) Literally: Get slapped in Jongno, then go glare at the Han River
More English idioms
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- a blessing in disguise Something that seems bad at first but turns out well.
- teach your grandmother to suck eggs To give advice to someone who knows far more than you.
- big deal Said sarcastically to mean something is not important at all.
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Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.
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