Like a cat with nine lives

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Meaning

Surviving tough scrapes, always up.

Origin

From 16th-century England, tied to cats; nine lives in lore, slang by 1580s in a play for luck. A 1660s text uses it for a save.

Variants

  • Nine lives

Usage Examples

  • He's like a cat with nine lives; always fine.
  • Like a cat with nine lives; she's back!
  • Nine lives; dodged it again.

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