A cat on a hot tin roof
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
Restless or edgy, all nerves.
Origin
From 20th-century America, popularized by Tennessee Williams' 1955 play 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,' though rooted in Southern slang by the 1920s for nerves. Cats hate hot surfaces, making it a vivid image; a 1930s tale uses it for a fidgety soul.
Variants
- Cat on tin
Usage Examples
- She's like a cat on a hot tin roof-can't sit still.
- He was a cat on a hot tin roof before the exam.
- Cat on a hot tin roof; nerves shot!
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