In The Cat's Pajamas, Canadian children's author and illustrator Wallace Edwards tackles a tricky but fun part of the English language: idioms.An idiom, as it's explained in the front of the book, is "a group of words whose meaning cannot be understood from the meaning of the individual words; an expression, peculiar to a specific language, that cannot be translated literally." According to Wikipedia.com, the Cat's Pajamas is slang phrase coined by Thomas A. Dorgan. The Cat's Pajamas was contributed to the Steam Workshop. Expressions based on various parts of animals’ real or fanciful anatomy and other attributes, such as the cat’s whiskers, the cat’s pajamas, the bee’s knees and the frog’s eyebrows, are or were used to denote an outstandingly good person or thing. Many new, and for the most part nonsense, animal related expressions were coined to denote excellence. But cat clothes aren't just stylish; they have their functions. Cat’s pajamas — Something considered to be outstanding The term ‘cat’s pajamas’ comes from E.B. It also gave us a non-anatomical cat expression the cat’s pajamas, meaning “the absolute best” or “really modern and up-to-date.” NOTE: Pajamas were a fairly recent cultural adaptation in the 1920s. 'Cat' was flapper slang for fashionable young woman. I found this explanation on another site: The term “cat’s pajamas” comes from E.B. The vintage expression, "You're the cat's pajamas," means you're the best, you're awesome, the "bee's knees"! Cat fashion is the ultimate expression of a Japanese person's love for his or her cat. It's the cat's pajamas! The phrase became popular in the U.S. in the 1920s, along with the bee's knees, the cat's whiskers. What are synonyms for the cat's pajamas? I actually coined this phrase in 1968 during a hallucination where i thought i saw a cat wearing pajamas. be the cat's whiskers definition: to be better than everyone else. How did it start? Fantastically cool. Also used to describe another person who is genial and fun to be with. The most commonly used spelling worldwide is 'pajamas'. In the 1920s the urban east-coast cities of the USA were a breeding ground for new and wacky modes of expression. How it looks: The cat will catch your attention and then start to slowly blink his … "If you have studied the American language you will know that this is the highest of all praise, except perhaps "he is the cat's pyjamas.". It's amazing how many had originated from Bible scripture. It was really just a dead bush. This page was last edited on 26 December 2020, at 00:05. While the cat’s away the mice will play. was last spotted by us at the New York Times Crossword on December 13 2020. This has been used as a term of excellence, both in the 1920s and up until today, but differs from the other flapper era expressions in that, as well as a literal reference to the whiskers of a cat, it was the name of the thin tuning wires on early crystal radio sets. Why don't you recommend a related idiom? This term has been recently popularized by the movie 'The School of Rock'. Save Word. variants: or the cat's pajamas. In the UK we prefer 'pyjamas'. The Cat's Pajamas: Stories (2004) is a collection of short stories by Ray Bradbury.Its name of its title story comes from a phrase in English meaning a sought after and fancy thing. "The cat's pajamas" does indeed mean "the hottest new thing" or "great, wonderful" (as in "Fred's new car is the cat's pajamas; Fred himself, not so much"). The American cartoonist, Thomas Aloysius “Tad” Dorgan, is credited with creating this whimsical phrase. The clue "Cat's pajamas?" The phrase became popular in the U.S. in the 1920s, along with the bee's knees and the cat's whiskers. These included the snake's hips, the kipper's knickers, the monkey's eyebrows and so on. Answer: Its origin is unknown, but by the turn of the 20th century in America, it was widely used to mean first-rate or attractive. One of them… Featuring some of the most popular crossword puzzles, XWordSolver.com uses the knowledge of experts in history, anthropology, and science combined to provide you solutions when you cannot seem to guess the word. So popular were these expressions that by the late 1920s, the ‘cat’ ones were sometimes abbreviated to just “it’s the cat’s.” … A fun book of sayings and their origins. Origin: The … The bee's knees is an English slang phrase.. An adjective used by hipsters of the 1920's to describe a person who is the best at what they do. Hi Katelynn, In the 1920’s in America, the word “cat” came to be used as a slang term for a flapper. H.L. The word derives from Hindi pajama, the word for “loose trousers tied … (sanitary shave) $16.50 ; Nail clip only $10; Anal gland expression $10; 1 application of topical flea prevention treatment $13* We check every cat for signs of fleas upon arrival. ... the cat's meow noun phrase. Mencken describes the flapper as a young woman who "has forgotten how to simper; … In Reply to: THE CAT'S PAJAMAS posted by Bob Dylan on July 03, 2004: Who started it? No examples to display at this moment. All our pajamas that are currently on sale. There's no right or wrong about this - the word derives from the Persian and Urdu word pay-jama, so you might say pajamas and pyjamas have an equal claim to authenticity. This phrase is often likened to and/or confused with the 20’s term “cat’s meow”. Cat's pajamas? Posted by ESC (USA) on July 03, 2004. What's the origin of the phrase 'The bee's knees'? The cat's pajamas (and the cat's meow, the cat's whiskers), was a very popular expression in the 1920s, associated with the daring and unconventional jazz-age flappers. During this era, the word “cat” was used to describe flappers from the jazz era. What is the definition of the cat's pajamas? Amazingly sweet. The cat's meow definition is - —used to say that someone or something is very appealing. The Origin of Cats Pajamas. Question: Where did the expression “the cat’s pajamas” come from. See other phrases that were coined in the USA. Example sentences. Hi Katelynn, In the 1920’s in America, the word “cat” came to be used as a slang term for a flapper. We offer vibrant colors, bold prints and whimsical sophistication with a comfortable fit using the best available fabrics and all at an affordable cost. [2] Sometimes attributed to cartoonist Thomas Dorgan. The Cat's Pajamas is a community-created cosmetic item for the Pyro. The Cat’s Pajamas is an illustrated exploration of the etymology of a very common expression, or lingo, which is a great word in and of itself: He thinks he’s the cat’s pajamas! Etymology: A slang phrase coined by Thomas A. Dorgan. Free speech is supported by Scanlon and is the works of Mill backs his theories. But I’m wondering where you’re running into “the cat’s pajamas” these days, because the phrase itself is nearing its one-hundredth anniversary. How to use cat's pajamas in a sentence. Popular in the US as early as 1922[1] around which the bee's knees, cat's whiskers, and numerous other similar phrases gained prominence. Trivia lovers will surely get some ammunition out of the info in this book! Most I'd heard of but some were new to me. Of the many such phrases only the bee's knees and the cat's pajamas remain in regular use. Scanlon gives six examples of how free expression can cause harm. It is a team-colored hoodie that extends from the Pyro's suit, with cat ears at the top and three whiskers near the border on each side of the head. Where did it start? This was later taken up by jazz circles and morphed into a name for one of either sex who exhibited style, as cool cat and hepcat. The phrase care killed the cat appeared in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing in 1599: "though care killed a cat, thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care." How to use the cat's meow in a sentence. Cat's Pajamas is a phrase that became popular in the 1920s to describe something really great. Related expressions. Learn more. 'The cat's pajamas' is a nonsense phrase but there is some sense behind it. The cat's meow definition is - —used to say that someone or something is very appealing. But I’m wondering where you’re running into “the cat’s pajamas” these days, because the phrase itself is nearing its one-hundredth anniversary. There is a related 'cat' expression - 'the cat's whiskers'. How to use the cat's meow in a sentence. Let Sleeping Dogs Lie. Before we start let's get the spelling of pajamas out of the way. (Tad) Dorgan (1877-1929), according to Green’s Dictionary of Slang. Gallery. Katz, an English tailor of the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, who made the finest silk pajamas for royalty and other wealth patrons. If something is said to be the cat's pajamas it is excellent - the highest quality. Post example. As an existing term it got swept up and included in the many terms for excellence. Dorgan is also credited with coining “the cat’s meow,” though not “the cat’s whiskers.” All three expressions mean someone or something that’s outstanding. The Cat's Pajamas was so fashionable a term as to be taken up as the name of many things in the 1920s - a dance, a stage show, a song, a film, even the name of a style of furry underwear. Post an example. Super hip. “Cat’s pajamas,” mused one of the patrolmen, “Wait a minute, I think there’s a publicity scheme afoot.” ↑ 2.0 2.1 Carol Braham (January 2, 2001) , “cat's pajamas”, in The Mavens' Word of The Day, Random House, archived from the original on August 3, 2013 In the case of these Cat Pajamas and Cat Hat , made by Egree of Japan, the clothing is specifically designed to keep wounds protected while cats are … As for “the cat’s pajamas” (or “pyjamas”), the expression was coined by the cartoonist T. A. But I'm wondering where you're running into "the cat's pajamas" these days, because the phrase itself is nearing its one-hundredth anniversary. (Pajamas, by the way, were a new and fashionable article of clothing in the 1920s and therefore suitably hip for inclusion in this mod lingo.) - the short version The phrase 'the bee's knees' was originally an 18th century fanciful phrase which referred to something that didn't exist. "The cat's pajamas" (or pyjamas, depending on whether you're writing in American and British English) means, basically, "a really good thing" or sometimes "a really good new thing." Cat's pajamas definition is - a highly admired or exceptionally excellent person or thing. “The cat’s pajamas” does indeed mean “the hottest new thing” or “great, wonderful” (as in “Fred’s new car is the cat’s pajamas; Fred himself, not so much”). Scanlon applies the harm principle to freedom of expression and states that harm itself is not a justification for limiting or restricting Speech or expression. Steam Workshop thumbnail for the Cat's Pajamas. Or (you might say to that special someone), Baby, you’re the cat’s pajamas. “The cat’s pajamas” does indeed mean “the hottest new thing” or “great, wonderful” (as in “Fred’s new car is the cat’s pajamas; Fred himself, not so much”). THE CAT'S PAJAMAS. [2], Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary, “PAJAMA GIRL AND CATS OUT; Fifth Avenue Crowds Gather, but Police Scent Publicity Scheme.”, in, https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=cat%27s_pyjamas&oldid=61390014, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Another collection by the same name was published in the same year by fellow science fiction author James Morrow The cat’s pajamas describes someone or something that is wonderful or remarkable. The bright young things of the flapper era wanted to throw off anything old or stuffy in fashion, music and language. Like I said, a fun book. Calm cats, professional and caring. I've opted here for the spelling normally used in the USA as that is where 'the cat's pajamas' was coined. This idiomatic expression became popular in the United States in the 1920s. Answer: Its origin is unknown, but by the turn of the 20th century in America, it was widely used to mean first-rate or attractive. Meaning: Leave things alone, especially if they can stir up trouble. The earliest example of it that I can find in print is from the South Carolina newspaper The Pageland Journal, February 1918: Another thing which makes 'the cat's pajamas' stand out from the crowd is that it isn't just a fanciful reference to an animal. Concept art for the Cat's Pajamas… Curiosity killed the cat. The Oxford English Dictionary records the expression "bee's knee" as meaning something small or insignificant from 1797. A synonym for awesome. Of American-English origin, they are first recorded in the early 1920s. It also gave us a non-anatomical cat expression the cat’s pajamas, meaning “the absolute best” or “really modern and up-to-date.” NOTE: Pajamas were a fairly recent cultural adaptation in the 1920s. There is a related 'cat' expression - 'the cat's whiskers'. It’s not too hard to figure out the meaning of this one: Don’t put too much … I actually coined this phrase in 1968 during a hallucination where i thought i saw a cat wearing pajamas. The phrase, like 'the cat's pajamas', has given its name to a cocktail, made from gin and honey with lemon and orange juice. It was really just a dead bush. What is the meaning of the cat's pajamas? If your cat has fleas, a mandatory gentle, citrus-based flea bath is required. The hipsters in the 1920’s used this expression to describe a person who is the best at what they do, or a person who was fun to be with. Being the "cat’s pajamas" is considered especially awesome since, well, cats who wear pajamas are something special indeed! Affection Seeking. Rating. How do you use the cat's pajamas in a sentence? Kitten cut $80 (for medium or long-hair cats only) Belly shave $16.50; PJ's poop shoot! The cat's pajamas is a little different from the other similar 'animal' expressions as it was in prior use outside of 1920s New York circles. A synonym for awesome. Be the first one to post an example sentence for this idiom below. The word derives from Hindi pajama, the word for “loose trousers tied … I'm not sure where that first answerer got their information, but the word has been around since the 1920's, definitely not the late 1700's. Curiosity killed the cat. In the 1920s the word cat was used as a term to describe the unconventional flappers from the jazz era. 'The cat's pajamas' is a nonsense phrase but there is some sense behind it. Cat's pajamas (pyjamas) Very good, great, wonderful, remarkable. Before curiosity, it was care that killed the cat. cat's pajamas Rate this phrase: (0.00 / 0 votes) A highly sought-after and fancy example of something, usually referring to inanimate objects. Question: Where did the expression “the cat’s pajamas” come from. By the mid 1920s the US phrases the cat's eyebrows/pajamas had become well enough established to have travelled to the UK, as seen in this extract from the London newspaper The Daily Herald, May 1923: "Oh, you lovers of Rudolph [Valentino] - He is the cat's eyebrows.
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