a)DHPa small animal with four legs that people often keep as a pet 猫 → feline
tabby/ginger/tortoiseshell etc cat (=colours of cats) 斑猫/姜黄色猫/花斑家猫等
a tom cat (=a male cat)
公猫,雄猫
b)HBA (also big cat) a large animal such as a lion or tiger 大型猫科动物〔如狮、虎〕
2.let the cat out of the bagTELL A SECRETto tell someone a secret, especially without intending to 〔尤指无意中〕泄露秘密,露出马脚
Examples from the Corpus
let the cat out of the bag• I'm sorry. Jim knows about last week's party. I'm afraid I let the cat out of the bag.• Inadvertently perhaps, the BiE report lets the cat out of the bag.• Some idiot's let the cat out of the bag -- Mrs Simpson realizes there's something going on.
3.put/set the cat among the pigeonsPROBLEMto do or say something that causesarguments, trouble etc 惹出乱子,引起麻烦
4play (a game of) cat and mouse (with somebody)PREVENTto pretend to allow someone to do or have what they want, and then to stop them from doing or having it (跟某人)玩猫捉老鼠的游戏,愚弄(某人)
The police played an elaborate game of cat and mouse to trap him.
警方跟他玩了一场精心布局的猫捉老鼠游戏,诱他落网。
Examples from the Corpus
play (a game of) cat and mouse (with somebody)• They played cat and mouse with the Bay, now scrambling for the outside, now sneaking back in.• For the rest of the huntingseason, the saboteurs will play a cat and mouse game with the huntsmen.
5the cat’s whiskers/pyjamasinformal something or someone that is better than everything else 最棒的东西[人]
I really thought I looked the cat’s whiskers in that dress.
我确实认为穿那条连衣裙让我看起来最漂亮。
6.like a cat on hot bricksBritish EnglishBrE, like a cat on a hot tin roofAmerican EnglishAmENERVOUS so nervous or anxious that you cannot keep still or keep your attention on one thing 像热锅上的蚂蚁,坐立不安,心神不定
7not stand/have a cat in hell’s chance (of doing something)informal to not have any chance of succeeding (做某事)毫无成功的希望
They don’t have a cat in hell’s chance of being elected.
他们没有任何希望当选。
8.when the cat’s away (the mice will play)used to say that people will not behave well when the person who has authority over them is not there 猫儿不在,老鼠作怪;上司不在,下属胡来
9.like the cat that got the creamBritish EnglishBrE, like the cat that ate the canaryAmerican EnglishAmE informal very proud or pleased because of something you have achieved or got 扬扬得意,踌躇满志
10.look like something the cat dragged/brought inBritish EnglishBrE informal to look very dirty or untidy 衣衫褴褛;脏乱不堪
tabby/ginger/tortoiseshell etc cat• First, what exactly is a tortoiseshell cat?• For some reason we do not fully understand, the blotchedtabby cat was a winner.• It was Rats, Molly's hugetortoiseshell cat.• A large, tabby cat came in, sniffed round his shoes then jumped up on his lap.• A visible example of Xchromosome inactivation is the tortoiseshell cat.• What is the history of the tabby cat?• The tortoiseshell cat was found wounded and frightened in Grangetown, Middlesbrough, and brought to an animal sanctuary.