Idioms Explained
Viewing comments for Chapter 12 "No room to swing a cat"Fanstorians explain the backstory of idioms
20 total reviews
Comment from Tina Crute
You had me fully engaged with your story-telling, throughout this chapter and I learned a lot also. I am a cat lover and thoroughly enjoyed this read! Well done!
Tina
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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You had me fully engaged with your story-telling, throughout this chapter and I learned a lot also. I am a cat lover and thoroughly enjoyed this read! Well done!
Tina
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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Thank you very much.
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Welcome!
Tina
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
You explained this unusual saying well. I love the picture of the sweet kitties having a treat. I've never heard of this idiom, but your words made it easy to understand. I like the other cat related ones you included at the end--those I know.
Thanks for sharing.
Respectfully, Jan
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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You explained this unusual saying well. I love the picture of the sweet kitties having a treat. I've never heard of this idiom, but your words made it easy to understand. I like the other cat related ones you included at the end--those I know.
Thanks for sharing.
Respectfully, Jan
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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I think it is not used in Us. But it is fairly common in Uk and Australia and India.
Thank you for stopping by.
Comment from royowen
I've perused the marvellous idioms of language, the way we try to explain something by word imagery, and I think as a writer, that's probably the origin of these fabulous idioms, I would we would all like to do the same. Beautifully written Sanku, a great post, blessings Roy
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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I've perused the marvellous idioms of language, the way we try to explain something by word imagery, and I think as a writer, that's probably the origin of these fabulous idioms, I would we would all like to do the same. Beautifully written Sanku, a great post, blessings Roy
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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Thank you for stopping by. It is very interesting how idioms come about .How names are evolved. Thanks for encouraging me.
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It is indeed
Comment from lyenochka
Thank you for this addition to the book, Santha! I appreciate the reminder of that idiom's origin. And I love that you gave us additional "cat" idioms!
The "swing a cat" expression is distinctly British as you'd got odd looks in the U.S. if you used it here.
The speaker was UK returned (Is this structure also British English? I guess in American English we'd say: The speaker had just returned from the UK)
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2021
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Thank you for this addition to the book, Santha! I appreciate the reminder of that idiom's origin. And I love that you gave us additional "cat" idioms!
The "swing a cat" expression is distinctly British as you'd got odd looks in the U.S. if you used it here.
The speaker was UK returned (Is this structure also British English? I guess in American English we'd say: The speaker had just returned from the UK)
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 20-Nov-2021
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Iam.not sure if it is UK English.But it definitely is Indian English.We brazenly twist and turn the language yo suit our purpose. I should not have used that here
Another example of Indian.Englizh is Time pass.If a movie is just average you say timepass in India!! The list endless.Englishman may squirm when he listen to such expressions
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That's so interesting! When I got my MA in teaching ESL, I took a class in World Englishes. We enjoyed learning about very different and absolutely acceptable English spoken in the world. I hope you will share about Indian English idioms, too. I like "timepass" and those movies make me want to say, "I want my two hours of life back!"
Comment from Elizabeth Emerald
Great pick! What a coincidence--I recently wrote about the expression that refers to SKINNING a cat--and was distressed to learn of its literal origin. Glad this one pertains to the shorthand for the whip. Regardless, if I were a cat I'd much prefer to be swung than skinned.
hyphenate English-speaking.
inadvertantly=>inadvertently
hyphenate cat-and-mouse (game)
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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Great pick! What a coincidence--I recently wrote about the expression that refers to SKINNING a cat--and was distressed to learn of its literal origin. Glad this one pertains to the shorthand for the whip. Regardless, if I were a cat I'd much prefer to be swung than skinned.
hyphenate English-speaking.
inadvertantly=>inadvertently
hyphenate cat-and-mouse (game)
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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Thank you for those pointers.
I still wonder how the whip got to be called 'cat'.may be i must try to find out.
Comment from humpwhistle
And, of course, there's 'Fidgety as a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rockers'. I think idioms are just evidence of humankind's affection for language, and our ingenuity in spicing up our everyday conversations.
I often try to 'invent' idioms through my characters. I hope one day one of them will catch on and enter into common usage. The truth about idioms is, someone has to be the first to use them.
Wonderful topic for a writing site.
Peace, Lee
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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And, of course, there's 'Fidgety as a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rockers'. I think idioms are just evidence of humankind's affection for language, and our ingenuity in spicing up our everyday conversations.
I often try to 'invent' idioms through my characters. I hope one day one of them will catch on and enter into common usage. The truth about idioms is, someone has to be the first to use them.
Wonderful topic for a writing site.
Peace, Lee
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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I loved that one .Long tail and rocking chairs makes it more interesting.True some one has to invent those idioms.I am sure some of yours will endure..
Comment from Jasmine Girl
Thanks. Now I know many more cat related idioms. I also learnt the real meaning of "no room to swing a cat". I know of "fat cat' and "let cat out of the bag" before.
Well done.
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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Thanks. Now I know many more cat related idioms. I also learnt the real meaning of "no room to swing a cat". I know of "fat cat' and "let cat out of the bag" before.
Well done.
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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Thank you very much for stopping by.
Comment from Bill Schott
This addition to the idiom collection, No Room to Swing a Cat, brings those fur-bearin' critters into the fun so we can tease their 'owners'. I am relieved to know, from earlier reading, that there is more than one way the skin one.
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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This addition to the idiom collection, No Room to Swing a Cat, brings those fur-bearin' critters into the fun so we can tease their 'owners'. I am relieved to know, from earlier reading, that there is more than one way the skin one.
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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Thank you very much for stopping by.
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
I really liked this one, being a cat lover myself. And swinging a 'cat o nine tails' is easy to believe and see how it came about. Goodness knows how those poor people must have suffered. I've used most of the cat idioms, as you said, most are self explanatory. Well done, I enjoyed this one a lot. :)) Sandra xx
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reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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I really liked this one, being a cat lover myself. And swinging a 'cat o nine tails' is easy to believe and see how it came about. Goodness knows how those poor people must have suffered. I've used most of the cat idioms, as you said, most are self explanatory. Well done, I enjoyed this one a lot. :)) Sandra xx
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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I know it is scary .Thank you verymuch for stopping by.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
I have never heard 'No room to swing a cat'. I'm glad too it's not about a cat. Thank you for sharing.
The meaning was clear, but swing a cat?. (don't need the period)
i could not find the origins of these. ('I' should be capitalized)
Thank you Helen for this challenge. (comma needed after 'you'
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reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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I have never heard 'No room to swing a cat'. I'm glad too it's not about a cat. Thank you for sharing.
The meaning was clear, but swing a cat?. (don't need the period)
i could not find the origins of these. ('I' should be capitalized)
Thank you Helen for this challenge. (comma needed after 'you'
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 19-Nov-2021
reply by the author on 24-Nov-2021
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Thank you for those pointers. Thank you for stopping by.
