cat's cradle
Any complicated structure that appears to be without purpose.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“The wires behind my desk are a total cat's cradle.”
“The new tax law is such a cat's cradle that even the accountants cannot explain it.”
“The legal contract was a tangled cat's cradle of clauses that seemed designed to confuse rather than clarify the agreement.”
- 01
bell the cat
To undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group.
- 02
cat and dog life
An unhappy married life marked by arguments and disagreements.
- 03
cat got someone's tongue
Why is someone not saying anything?
- 04
cat in the meal-tub
Something concealed; a hidden danger.
- 05
cat piss
Any beverage of low quality.
- 06
cat that ate the canary
A person who appears self-satisfied or smug, especially while concealing something mischievous, prohibited, or private.
- 07
cat's meow
A self-satisfied person.
- 08
cool cat
A person who performs or appreciates jazz, especially one whose style of speech and movement is relaxed and rhythmic.
Last updated August 10, 2026