| No. | Item | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | a cat nap | a short light sleep |
| 2. | a copycat | someone who imitates others |
| 3. | a leopard can’t change spots | People can’t change their nature. |
| 4. | all bark and no bite | Threatening but not dangerous. |
| 5. | all cats are gray at night | differences fade in darkness |
| 6. | as blind as a bat | Having very poor eyesight. |
| 7. | as busy as a bee | Very active and hardworking. |
| 8. | as playful as a kitten | very lively and mischievous |
| 9. | as weak as a kitten | very frail or powerless |
| 10. | beat a dead horse | Waste effort on something settled. |
| 11. | bell the cat | take a risky initiative |
| 12. | bite the bullet | Face something unpleasant bravely. |
| 13. | black sheep | Odd or disreputable family member. |
| 14. | busy as a beaver | Very busy and industrious. |
| 15. | cat got your tongue? | why are you suddenly silent? |
| 16. | cat napper | someone who naps often |
| 17. | cat on a hot tin roof | restless and uneasy |
| 18. | cat-and-mouse game | a tricky chase or contest |
| 19. | cat’s cradle | a complicated situation or tangle |
| 20. | cat’s lick | a quick, careless wash |
| 21. | cat’s meow | something very impressive |
| 22. | cat’s paw | a dupe used by another |
| 23. | cat’s whiskers | something excellent; the best |
| 24. | curiosity killed the cat | being nosy can be risky |
| 25. | dark horse | Unexpected winner or candidate. |
| 26. | dog-eat-dog | Ruthlessly competitive. |
| 27. | eagle eye | Very sharp observation. |
| 28. | eat like a bird | Eat very little. |
| 29. | fat cat | a wealthy, powerful person |
| 30. | feeling catty | being spiteful or snide |
| 31. | fight like cats and dogs | argue fiercely and often |
| 32. | fish out of water | Uncomfortable in unfamiliar situation. |
| 33. | fraidy-cat | a very timid person |
| 34. | get off your high horse | Stop acting superior. |
| 35. | get one’s hackles up | become angry or defensive |
| 36. | go the whole hog | Do something completely. |
| 37. | grin like a Cheshire cat | smile very broadly |
| 38. | have kittens | be extremely anxious |
| 39. | hold your horses | wait; slow down |
| 40. | horse around | Play roughly; fool around. |
| 41. | in the catbird seat | in an advantageous position |
| 42. | in the doghouse | in trouble with someone |
| 43. | it’s raining cats and dogs | raining very heavily |
| 44. | jump down someone’s throat | respond angrily and suddenly |
| 45. | jump the gun | start too soon |
| 46. | keep a straight face | Avoid showing amusement. |
| 47. | keep someone on a short leash | control someone closely |
| 48. | kill two birds with one stone | achieve two goals at once |
| 49. | knock it off | stop doing that |
| 50. | let sleeping dogs lie | avoid restarting old conflicts |
| 51. | let the cat out of the bag | reveal a secret accidentally |
| 52. | like a cat on hot bricks | very nervous and fidgety |
| 53. | like a dog with a bone | very persistent and stubborn |
| 54. | like herding cats | very hard to organize |
| 55. | lion’s share | the largest portion |
| 56. | look what the cat dragged in | an unwelcome arrival |
| 57. | make a beeline | go straight toward something |
| 58. | make a mountain out of molehill | Exaggerate a small problem. |
| 59. | make a pig’s ear of it | make a mess of it |
| 60. | make like a tree and leave | go away; depart |
| 61. | monkey business | Mischief or dishonest behavior. |
| 62. | night owl | Someone active late at night. |
| 63. | not enough room to swing a cat | a very cramped space |
| 64. | old fox | A very crafty person. |
| 65. | on the prowl | searching for something stealthily |
| 66. | one swallow doesn’t make summer | One sign isn’t enough. |
| 67. | one-trick pony | limited to one skill |
| 68. | open a can of worms | create more problems |
| 69. | paper tiger | Seems threatening but is weak. |
| 70. | pig out | Eat a lot greedily. |
| 71. | play possum | pretend to be asleep or dead |
| 72. | put a sock in it | Be quiet; stop talking. |
| 73. | put on the dog | dress up; show off |
| 74. | put the cart before the horse | do things in the wrong order |
| 75. | put the cat among the pigeons | cause trouble or shock |
| 76. | rat race | fierce, exhausting competition |
| 77. | scaredy-cat | a timid person |
| 78. | sitting duck | Easy target. |
| 79. | smell a rat | suspect something dishonest |
| 80. | snake in the grass | A hidden, treacherous person. |
| 81. | straight from the horse’s mouth | from the original source |
| 82. | take the bait | Fall for a provocation. |
| 83. | take the bull by the horns | face a problem directly |
| 84. | the birds and the bees | Basic facts about sex. |
| 85. | the cat’s pajamas | something excellent or stylish |
| 86. | the early bird catches worm | Early action brings success. |
| 87. | the elephant in the room | an obvious issue ignored |
| 88. | there’s more than one way | multiple solutions exist |
| 89. | top dog | The most important person. |
| 90. | under one’s thumb | controlled by someone else |
| 91. | under the same roof | living in one place |
| 92. | under the weather | feeling slightly ill |
| 93. | up in arms | angry and protesting |
| 94. | up in the air | not decided yet |
| 95. | up the creek | in serious trouble |
| 96. | up to no good | doing something wrong |
| 97. | up to scratch | good enough; acceptable |
| 98. | when the cat’s away | without supervision, people misbehave |
| 99. | wild goose chase | a pointless search |
| 100. | wolf in sheep’s clothing | Dangerous person pretending harmless. |
