O' peoples of the world,

How true is my claim about cats that they do not globally feature in offensive/insulting idioms, proverbs, sayings etc. except for the occasion when they are referred to such as in the case that "someone runs away scared" ?

What does your language say about cats ?

(Compare with dogs being used as insults in order to get a better idea of what I'm trying to ask about)

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All I can think of is scaredy-cat or something along those lines.

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My mates and I call someone who backs off from something a "cat". I'm not sure why... I guess because everyone else does it too.

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'A cornered cat makes wild jumps'

Should be obvious

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Sometimes a fight between women is referred to as a "cat fight," often accompanied by claw-like movement of the hands, a hiss, and a chuckle.

Then there's the definition of the English term, "catty:"

cat·ty
(kt)
adj. cat·ti·er, cat·ti·est
1. Subtly cruel or malicious; spiteful: a catty remark.
2. Catlike; stealthy.

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The two proverb/Idioms I think of regarding cats are:

1. Buy a cat in a sack
Meaning: You got conned. Might be from the middle ages where someone would sell you a cat, claiming it to be a piglet. "Can't open the sack you see, the squirming piglet might flee".

2. Let the cat out of the sack.
Clear reference to the first, but this time you disclose a secret or something that should not have been told. Or the tale you told can't be retrieved, "the damage is done" so to speak.

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Hey we also have that one. I once made a thread about the themes of proverbs in different languages because of the many similarity's in themes, but it didn't really take of. It's fun how so many dutch and english proverbs and expressions are rooted in our naval traditions but more interesting are the universal themes in proverbs, persian one, he who comes with the wind will be swept away by it, now every language and culture has a version of that.

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Err, you're missing a certain other word referring to cats which also refers to a female body part and is generally used to call someone a coward or wimp. Five letters, starts with p, etc.

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"Who let the cat out the bag?"

I always thought it was in reference to that it would be rather hard to get a cat back into a sack once it's gotten out. Unless that cat be declawed.



And what of the black cats that might cross ones path?


Also, brothels can be referred to as "Cat Houses."

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First thing I thought of was "cool cat" and "hepcat", and the later 70's version, just plain old "cat". Those are certainly not negative.

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Here CAT can mean; the Central Arizona Tradition. All very prehistoric, of course.

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More than one way to skin a cat

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Odd this one is about the piglet in Swedish.
Köpa grisen i säcken.

Here in Scandinavia it's mostly the relation between the cat and the mice that's refered to, for example:

When the cat is gone, the rats dances on the table.

There's more exceptions (not only Sigurd's) though:
In the darkness, all cats are grey.

They aren't really insulting though.

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To be honest, I thought that was what LEN was referring to all along. Assuming it is, then I will say that I only rarely use the term to which you alluded -- particularly if it's intended as a reference to female anatomy. When I use it at all, it's usually when indicating someone is a wuss/coward/etc.

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Thanks for all worldwide input.

Although Martok is precise with what I wanted to know about, what other fellows tell about "cat"'s usage in their language helps from the opposite direction as well.

I've yet to see cat being a direct means of insult. Or am I a die-hard cats-can't-be-bad person ?

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1. Die Katze im Sack kaufen - buy the cat in the sack - what Sigurd said
2. Die Katze aus dem Sack lassen - let the cat out of the sack - what Sigurd said
3. Ist die Katze aus dem Haus, tanzen die Mäuse auf den Tischen - If the cat left the house, the mice are dancing on the tables - if somebody "in chief" left, others will do what they like
4. Bei Nacht sind alle Katzen grau - By night all cats are grey - in certain circumstances, one can't make a proper distinction
5. Katzentisch - cat table - usually in a restaurant a sub par table, mostly near the toilet
6. Katzenwäsche - cat wash - instead of having a proper shower, one just washes axles and face
7. Kätzchen - kitten - seldomly an intimate name for an attractive woman, positive or ironically
8. Muschi - pu**y - name for the female sex organ, pet name for a cat (very seldom) or for a woman (extremely seldom)

I think there's absolutely nothing negative within the German language regarding cats.

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I was going to post that, but then I thought better of it. yes, that is likely to have something to do with it.

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The first two suggested; catty and scaredy-cat are both pretty direct insults. I think you may be blinded by cat-love.

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There is a saying that some girl/woman is a cat. It is a "mild-insult", but what you say is that that woman likes to be with men at the same time.

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Here we have 'kattig'. It has a different meaning though, een kattig meisje = a (can't translate this without getting warning points but it involves a female dog) of a girl, but playful not mean, think meow->pet->scratch>ouch!

edit, that particular word for the, well, well we have that as well. But in dutch language the odor aspect is covered sufficiently as well us dutchies being a nation that relies so heavily on the seas.

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In Japan there is a saying, curiosity can kill all nine cats.

Cats seems to wonderaround so...

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