IdiomAnimals
English
Englishuse someone as a cat's paw
Meaning: To get someone else to do one's dirty work.
Example: “The senator used a junior aide as a cat's paw to leak the report.”
Origin: From the fable of the monkey that uses a cat's paw to pull roasted chestnuts out of the fire, burning the cat and keeping the chestnuts. The phrase is found in English from the 17th century.
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: sacar el ascua con mano ajena Literally: To draw the hot coal with another's hand
More English idioms
- look out for number one To put one's own interests first.
- lose one's marbles To go crazy.
- with only the clothes on one's back With no possessions at all.
- well, I never! An exclamation of surprise or disbelief.
- luck out To have unexpected good luck.
- the heart of the matter The most important part of an issue.
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