May 1, 2012 · 8 The cat in copy-cat means person. The OED says at copy-cat n.: Etymology: cat n.1 2. the referenced sense being: cat n.1 2. fig. a. As a term of contempt for a human being; esp. one who …

Jun 30, 2011 · The version more than one way to skin a cat seems to have nothing directly to do with the American English term to skin a cat, which is to perform a gymnastic exercise that involves passing …

Nov 17, 2015 · My older print copy cites 1825 for the first use of "pet name for cow," 1886 for "untidily dressed woman," and 1911 for "cat," in that order, but gives many more examples for the last usage.

Mar 22, 2017 · I had forgotten that "cat's cradle" is the term commonly used to refer to a string figure game/hobby often engaged in by children. I'm guessing that it's a practice that's just about died out, …

Oct 24, 2016 · The same dictionary states that in west Texas in 1915 "catawampus cat" was a dialectal term for "a virago." The true origin of cattywampus may be lost (if it was ever known), but any serious …

Oct 23, 2013 · Cc: (carbon copy) and Bcc: (blind carbon copy) are used to indicate a comparable type of meta info about a letter or email. In fact, they literally refer to a communication technology that is no …

The other one, which I copy below, is the purported source of pussy meaning "coward". Basically, using a pet name usually given to women, like sweetheart, princess, etc. to refer to a man mockingly. a. …

Apr 7, 2011 · Tit and tat are used here to mean striking a light blow, so the phrase has exactly the same meaning as blow for blow. They were used as both nouns and verbs, as a sixteenth-century rhyme …

Apr 15, 2015 · The adjective "cute", though, modifies the cat, of course. It would sound a bit silly to describe a copy of the photograph as "cute", and it sounds perfectly sensible to call the cat "cute".

Aug 9, 2023 · I had my purse stolen during my stay in London. In this sentence, "stolen" is used insted of "steal". In my childhood, I had a fire break out. In this sentence, …