kick the cat
Meaning: To take out one's anger on someone weaker or innocent.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “Don't kick the cat just because your boss yelled at you.”
Category: Animals
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 idioms — Animals
- be put out to pasture — To be retired or set aside as no longer useful.
- Ça ne casse pas trois pattes à un canard — It's nothing special or impressive.
- Avoir le cafard — To feel depressed or down.
- Poser un lapin — To stand someone up on a date.
- Avoir d'autres chats à fouetter — To have more important things to do.
- Da steppt der Bär — It's going to be a great party.
More English idioms
- right under one's nose — Very close, yet unnoticed.
- Rome wasn't built in a day — Important things take time.
- bend over backwards — To make a great effort to help or please someone.
- better late than never — It is better to do something late than not at all.
- be afraid of one's own shadow — To be very timid and easily frightened.
- lightning never strikes twice — An unusual event, lucky or unlucky, is unlikely to happen again in the same way.