cat's pajamas: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Slang, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “cat's pajamas” mean?
A person or thing considered outstanding or excellent.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person or thing considered outstanding or excellent.
An idiom denoting something or someone exceptionally impressive, fashionable, or desirable.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both UK and US recognize it equally as an Americanism from the Jazz Age.
Connotations
The idiom strongly connotes 1920s America (the 'flapper' era). It is perceived as American cultural history.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage in both varieties, slightly more likely to be encountered in US media referencing the Roaring Twenties.
Grammar
How to Use “cat's pajamas” in a Sentence
[Subject] be (considered) the cat's pajamas.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cat's pajamas” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The singer's Charleston performance was positively cat's pajamas.
American English
- That new speakeasy downtown is just the cat's pajamas.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only used in historical or linguistic studies of slang.
Everyday
Rare, used humorously or to sound old-fashioned.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cat's pajamas”
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Using it non-ironically in modern speech.
- Incorrect plural: 'cat pajamas' (wrong).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is considered archaic slang. Its use today is almost always humorous, ironic, or in historical contexts.
They are near-synonyms from the same era, both meaning 'excellent'. Their usage is interchangeable, with no significant difference in meaning.
Yes, the British English spelling is 'pyjamas', but the idiom remains an American cultural import. The spelling changes but the usage and rarity are identical.
The 1920s ('Jazz Age') was a period of linguistic creativity and playful slang. These nonsensical, rhyming phrases were a fad to express enthusiasm and modernity.
A person or thing considered outstanding or excellent.
Cat's pajamas is usually informal, slang, archaic in register.
Cat's pajamas: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkæts pəˈdʒɑː.məz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkæts pəˈdʒæ.məz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the bee's knees”
- “the dog's bollocks (UK, vulgar)”
- “the cat's whiskers”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a stylish CAT wearing fancy silk PAJAMAS, looking exceptionally cool and 'the best'.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXCELLENCE IS NOVELTY/STYLE (The pajamas represent new, fashionable, desirable attire).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'cat's pajamas' be most appropriately used today?