cat's cradle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “cat's cradle” mean?
A string game in which a loop of string is wound and woven around the fingers of both hands to create a sequence of symmetrical patterns.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A string game in which a loop of string is wound and woven around the fingers of both hands to create a sequence of symmetrical patterns.
Something intricate, delicate, or interconnected; a complex and interwoven structure or situation that is difficult to manage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The game is universally known and the metaphorical use is understood in both varieties.
Connotations
Conveys a sense of childhood nostalgia, complexity, and fragility in both regions.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British English as a metaphorical phrase, but the difference is minimal.
Grammar
How to Use “cat's cradle” in a Sentence
play (a game of) cat's cradlea cat's cradle of [something complex]tangled/twisted into a cat's cradleVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cat's cradle” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The children were cat's-cradling for hours.
- She expertly cat's-cradled the string into a new shape.
American English
- The kids spent the afternoon cat's cradling.
- He can cat's cradle better than anyone.
adverb
British English
- The wires hung cat's-cradle from the ceiling.
American English
- The vines grew cat's-cradle across the old fence.
adjective
British English
- The cat's-cradle complexity of the plot was confusing.
- They were stuck in a cat's-cradle bureaucracy.
American English
- It was a cat's-cradle mess of wires behind the TV.
- The cat's-cradle network of alliances is fragile.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could describe an overly complex corporate structure or a web of interdependent contracts.
Academic
Used metaphorically in sociology or systems theory to describe complex social networks.
Everyday
Primarily refers to the children's game. Metaphorical use is understood but not extremely common.
Technical
Not used in formal technical contexts.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cat's cradle”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cat's cradle”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cat's cradle”
- Using 'cats' cradle' (plural possessive) instead of the correct singular possessive 'cat's'.
- Confusing it with the literal meaning when a metaphorical one is intended.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a hyphenated compound noun: 'cat's-cradle'. However, in common usage, it is often written without the hyphen as 'cat's cradle'.
Yes, informally. You can say 'to cat's cradle' meaning to play the game or to create such a pattern.
The exact origin is uncertain. One theory suggests 'cradle' refers to the criss-cross pattern resembling a cradle, and 'cat's' may be a corruption of 'catch' or refer to the 'cratch' (manger) of the nativity, or simply be a whimsical animal association common in nursery rhymes.
Yes, variations of string figure games exist in many cultures worldwide (e.g., Inuit, Maori, Native American). 'Cat's cradle' is the common English name for one specific sequence of figures.
A string game in which a loop of string is wound and woven around the fingers of both hands to create a sequence of symmetrical patterns.
Cat's cradle is usually neutral in register.
Cat's cradle: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkæts ˈkreɪ.dəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkæts ˈkreɪ.dəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a cat's cradle of lies/deceit”
- “more tangled than a cat's cradle”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CAT sitting in a CRADLE made of tangled string it has played with.
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPLEXITY IS A TANGLED STRING GAME; DECEPTION IS A WEB (a cat's cradle of lies).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary, literal meaning of 'cat's cradle'?