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猫をかぶる (Neko wo kaburu)

Meaning: To hide one's true nature; to act innocent.

Language: Japanese

Literally: To wear a cat on your head

Category: Animals

Origin: Edo period expression, origin debated.

More idioms — Animals

  • 馬の耳に念仏 (Uma no mimi ni nenbutsu) — Wasted advice on someone who won't listen.
  • 雀の涙 (suzume no namida) — A pitifully small amount.
  • 対牛弾琴 (Tai gyū dan kin) — Wasting effort on an unappreciative audience.
  • 蛇足 (dassoku) — Something completely unnecessary; a superfluous addition.
  • 猫に小判 (Neko ni koban) — Giving something valuable to someone who can't appreciate it.
  • Estar en la edad del pavo — To be at an awkward teenage phase.

More Japanese idioms

  • 口が滑る (kuchi ga suberu) — To accidentally let something slip.
  • 杞憂 (Kiyū) — Unnecessary worry about things that won't happen; baseless anxiety.
  • 傍若無人 (Bōjaku-bujin) — Behaving without regard for others' feelings or presence around you.
  • 一期一会 (Ichi-go ichi-e) — Treasure each encounter as unique and irreplaceable in life.
  • 四面楚歌 (Shimensoka) — Being surrounded by enemies with no hope of escape or support.
  • 鯖を読む (Saba o yomu) — To fudge the numbers in your favor, especially your age.

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