# cat that ate the canary

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/cat-that-ate-the-canary
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A person who appears self-satisfied or smug, especially while concealing something mischievous, prohibited, or private.

## Examples

- He looks like the cat that ate the canary after his prank.
- She walked into the room with a smile like the cat that ate the canary, clearly hiding a secret.
- With a look reminiscent of the cat that ate the canary, he sat silently, savoring the knowledge that his rival had finally been outmaneuvered.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.