dogs bark, cats meow
Used to introduce something seen as inevitable or totally commonplace.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“Dogs bark, cats meow, and he always complains about the weather.”
“You should not be surprised by his rudeness; dogs bark, cats meow, and he is simply a difficult person.”
“In the grand cycle of human nature, one must accept that dogs bark, cats meow, and politicians will inevitably promise more than they can deliver.”
From dogs + bark (verb) + cats + meow (verb).
- 01
all bark and no bite
Full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.
- 02
bark up the wrong tree
To take the wrong approach to a situation; to follow a false lead; to attempt to solve a problem using mistaken assumptions about its true nature.
- 03
bell the cat
To undertake a dangerous action in the service of a group.
- 04
buy a dog and bark oneself
To do something that one has hired someone else to do.
- 05
call off the dogs
To ease up on after inflicting great punishment.
- 06
cat and dog life
An unhappy married life marked by arguments and disagreements.
- 07
cat got someone's tongue
Why is someone not saying anything?
- 08
cat in the meal-tub
Something concealed; a hidden danger.
Last updated August 10, 2026