cat's whiskers: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, slightly dated
Quick answer
What does “cat's whiskers” mean?
Something or someone considered to be excellent, outstanding, or the best of its kind.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Something or someone considered to be excellent, outstanding, or the best of its kind.
An idiom expressing high praise or admiration, often with a slightly old-fashioned or humorous tone. It can refer to objects, ideas, or people.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The idiom is understood in both varieties but is considered somewhat old-fashioned. It may be slightly more recognized in British English due to its historical prevalence.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes enthusiastic, sometimes slightly exaggerated praise. It can sound quaint or charming.
Frequency
Rare in contemporary speech in both regions, occasionally found in writing to evoke a specific period or tone.
Grammar
How to Use “cat's whiskers” in a Sentence
[Subject] be the cat's whiskers[Subject] think [Object] be the cat's whiskersVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used humorously in internal communications to praise a successful project: 'The new marketing strategy is the cat's whiskers!'
Academic
Virtually never used.
Everyday
Used informally to express strong approval, often with a nostalgic or ironic tone: 'My grandad still thinks his vintage radio is the cat's whiskers.'
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cat's whiskers”
- Using the singular 'cat's whisker'.
- Using it in formal writing.
- Confusing it with 'cat's meow' (which is a similar, chiefly AmE idiom).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is understood but considered old-fashioned. It's used occasionally for humorous or nostalgic effect.
They are near-synonyms meaning 'excellent'. 'The bee's knees' is also dated and may be slightly more common in American English, while 'cat's whiskers' has a strong British flavour.
No, it is an informal idiom and would be inappropriate in formal writing. Use standard adjectives like 'excellent', 'superior', or 'outstanding' instead.
It's a fixed expression. Cats have multiple whiskers, and the idiom fossilised this plural form. Using the singular 'whisker' is incorrect.
Something or someone considered to be excellent, outstanding, or the best of its kind.
Cat's whiskers: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkæts ˈwɪskəz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkæts ˈwɪskərz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the bee's knees”
- “the dog's pyjamas”
- “top notch”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a very proud, elegant cat. Its long, perfect WHISKERS are the best part of it, helping it navigate perfectly. So, the 'cat's whiskers' means 'the best part' or simply 'the best'.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXCELLENCE IS A SUPERLATIVE BODY PART (of an animal).
Practice
Quiz
What is the meaning of 'the cat's whiskers'?