When the cat's away
Suggest a CorrectionMeaning
Chaos or freedom reigns when authority's gone.
Origin
From 15th-century Europe, in a 1470 proverb; 'when the cat's away, the mice will play'-tied to cats hunting mice. A 1598 English text lists it.
Variants
- Cat's away
Usage Examples
- Boss left; when the cat's away, we slack!
- When the cat's away, the kids go wild.
- When the cat's away, work slows down.
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