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A cat has nine lives

Meaning: Cats (or resilient people) survive many dangerous situations.

Origin: English proverb from the 16th century, based on folklore about feline agility.

Translations

  • French: Un chat a neuf vies (literally: A cat has nine lives)
  • Spanish: El gato tiene siete vidas (literally: The cat has seven lives)
  • Japanese: 猫に九生あり (Neko ni kyūsei ari) (literally: A cat has nine lives)

More proverbs about Human Nature

  • All's fair in love and war — Normal rules don't apply in romance or conflict.
  • A friend in need is a friend indeed — True friends show their worth during difficult times.
  • The squeaky wheel gets replaced — Constant complainers may be removed rather than accommodated.
  • Beauty is in the eye of the beholder — Perception of beauty is subjective and personal.
  • The bigger they are, the harder they fall — Powerful people suffer greater consequences when they fail.
  • Beauty is only skin deep — Physical appearance is superficial; character matters more.

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