Bengal Cat World Advent Calendar – Day Sixteen

Hello my friends, Spot here!

 

I’m back again, to tell you about some more kitty phrases! I must admit there are so many of them, it’s not hard to think of a phrase, but sometimes finding out about where it comes from can prove a challenge! 😯

 

Our gorgeous ginger boy, Robbie, is going to illustrate today’s phrase for you!

 

© www.bengalcatworld.com
Happy Robbie

 

Our Robbie cat loves cream (though you should never feed a kitty too much of it as it can give us stomach upsets), so today’s phrase is “looking like the cat that got the cream“! This is a British/Australian phrase, the American equivalent is “looking like the cat that swallowed/ate the canary“.

 

It relates to a person who annoys other people by looking very pleased with themselves because of something good that they have done.

 

It’s very hard to find the origins of the phrases, but the cat that got the cream was first seen in print in Francis Grose’s ‘Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue‘ which was first published in 1785, and is a dictionary of slang words. Grose was one of the first lexicographers to collect slang words from all corners of society and must have come across this one along the way!

 

We hope you will join us again tomorrow when we will bring you some more feline phraseology! Miaow! 🙂

 

Take care my friends!
Love from Spot

xxxxx

 

14 thoughts on “Bengal Cat World Advent Calendar – Day Sixteen”

  1. This is getting more interesting with each passing day, Spot! Robbie certainly does look as if he is very pleased with himself in this picture. Can’t wait til tomorrow! xxxxx

  2. I’ve been enjoying your kitty phrases so much! Being American, I’m more familiar with the ‘cat that ate the canary’. I’ve been learning so much! Keep up the great work! Love the awesome pictures you’ve put with your phrases, too! 😀

  3. Awww Sppt,. I´ve heard both “the cat that got the cream” and “the cat that swallowed/ate the canary“. Nice to see where it comes from also! 😉 Robbie´s like my boys, they also like cream, but preferably it should be wipped with vanilla and sugar… 🙄 :mrgreen:

  4. I’ve heard both expressions, but did not know the origins. I am so loving this advent calendar!! 😀 Spot, you must be one busy little boy — looking up all this information!! 😎 BTW, I know you will post it, but purrlease make sure you let us know about you upcoming show!!! 💡 Looking forward to day 17!! :mrgreen:

    1. We are looking forward to the show 🙂 We hope the judges will like us 😎 We will of course let you all know how we do 🙂 xxx

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