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Which of the following adjectives best describes someone who is "playing a cat and mouse game" with someone (assuming they are metaphorically the cat)?

Cruel. If someone is playing a cat and mouse game with another person, they are playing with the person in a cruel and unkind way, before the final act of cruelty. Much like a cat plays with a mouse before it eats it.

What does the proverb "a cat can look at a king" mean?

No one is so important that an ordinary person cannot look at them. Despite the belief of some who are high up in the ranks of social class, there is NO ONE who is so important that they cannot be looked at, or gazed upon, by other members of society. This saying merely brings this to our attention, by saying that even a cat can look at someone as high up as a king.

According to the proverb, you should keep more cats than can catch mice, just in case.

False. Nope. The proverb says that "you should keep NO more cats than catch mice." It's a bit of a harsh saying, as it's basically advising that you should not support anyone who can do nothing for you in return.

What is someone doing if they look at you, and refer to you as "something the cat dragged in"?

Insulting you. If someone said this to you, you could smile sweetly, and politely reply "Only because he couldn't stomach the idea of touching you." This is an incredibly derogatory comment on someone's arrival, and should be taken as an insult, and if possible, ignored.

What is the saying associated with the idea that unless there is supervision, people will misbehave?

When the cats are away, the mice will play. This saying is associated with the idea that when cats aren't in the house anymore, the mice will have a real good time, as they can now come out and eat the cheese, and run around a little bit. And it's true! I've often seen a group of what I thought were fairly civilised people turn into absolute hooligans as soon as there is no official authority there anymore.

What is the idiom associated with there not being a lot of space?

Not enough room to swing a cat. This will generally be used to describe a room that is very small, and does not have a whole lot of space. Swinging a cat should not (I don't know, I've never tried) take up a lot of space, which makes it a very appropriate saying. One theory as to the origin of this idiom is that it is a naval saying - the cat o' nine tails was a whipping device used in the Navy. There was not enough room below deck (i.e. in the cabins) to "swing the cat" and hence carry out punishment (punishment was therefore carried out above deck), and hence the phrase "not enough room to swing a cat" came into play.

What have you done if you are said to have "set the cat among the pigeons?"

Added a violently disturbing new element to something. What is a cat going to do if he's set down amongst a large group of pigeons? Have the time of his life causing chaos (i.e. catching, playing with, and finally eating the poor birds.) This is said if someone adds a new, and potentially violent or dangerous thing to something that was originally peaceful. A non-cat idiom that may be associated with this saying is "adding fuel to the flames."

Who, or what, would we use the phrase "fat cat" to describe?

A successful businessman, with lots of money. Contrary to what it sound like, if you are called a "fat cat," it is not necessarily an insult. If you are a "fat cat," it simply means that you are very successful in the business world, and have made a great deal of money. The term may also carry connotations of being overpaid, and not really earning the success which has been achieved.

If the "cat's got your tongue," you are able to speak very eloquently, and always have something to say.

f. If the "cat's got your tongue," you are speechless, and unable to speak.

What does it mean if something is "as high as the hair on the cat's back"?

It's very expensive. I'm not quite sure of why whoever came up with this idiom thought that the hair on a cat's back was very high, but either way, it's worked its way into idiomatic language, and if something is "as high on the hair on the cat's back," it is considered to be very expensive, and possibly a little out of reach.

What does it mean if something is described as being "the cat's pyjamas"?

It's all that and a bag of chips. "All that and a bag of chips" means that something is really great, but this saying is generally used in a sarcastic manner. "Don't you think Anna's great?" "Yeah. Just the cat's pyjamas."

If it's raining cats and dogs, it's just a light drizzle.

f. If it's raining cats and dogs, it is REALLY pouring, and I recommend that you get out of the rain FAST!

According to the proverb, what killed the cat?

Curiosity. This is just a warning about being curious, and advises that you do not go looking for trouble, because it will find you all by itself with no problem. I have heard otherwise: "Curiosity killed the cat But satisfaction brought him back."

If you are "like a cat on hot tin roof," what are you?

Agitated. "Calm down! You're like a cat on a hot tin roof!" This may be said by one friend to another, if their friend is being particularly fidgety. This is a pretty descriptive saying. Imagine you were a cat, and you had been forced to sit down on a tin roof in the middle of the day (and a particularly hot day it is.) Of course you're going to be agitated!

The theory is that cats can survive anything that should be severe enough to kill them. How many lives is a cat said to have?

9 & nine. Ok, maybe this isn't the most proverbial sort of question I could have asked. But cats have been known to survive the most bizarre sort of things, that, if the laws of science applied, would kill them. Of course, this probably isn't true, but it's a cool saying!

The saying "grinning like a Cheshire cat" originates from the book "The Wind In The Willows."

f. Actually, the Cheshire cat can be found in the story "Alice In Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll. The Cheshire cat was the animal that insisted on giving vague answers, and who also had a very broad grin, which is where the saying originates.

There's more than one way to _________ a cat.

skin. Not a very nice idiom, but it basically just means that there is more than one way of doing something.

What does it mean if you "let the cat out of the bag"?

You tell a secret you shouldn't have. If someone "lets the cat out of the bag," they let out a secret, usually by accident. The origin of this idiom also lies in the Navy - as mentioned before, the cat o' nine tails was a whipping device. Thus, if someone "let the cat out of the bag", there was going to be trouble.

What is the proverb associated with the idea that you cannot always get what you want by being polite and careful?

A cat in gloves catches no mice. According to the proverb "a cat in gloves catches no mice," you will not always be able to acheive your goals if you are always being polite and careful about it.

If someone is a "fraidy cat," are they brave?

No. A "fraidy cat" or a "scaredy cat" is generally a name given to someone who is not very courageous, and is scared to do something. Thanks for playing my quiz. Hope you enjoyed it!