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dogs bark, cats meow

idiom
Meaning

Used to introduce something seen as inevitable or totally commonplace.


Origin

disputed origin

From dogs + bark (verb) + cats + meow (verb).

Examples
SIMPLE

Dogs bark, cats meow, and he always complains about the weather.

CONTEXTUAL

You should not be surprised by his rudeness; dogs bark, cats meow, and he is simply a difficult person.

COMPLEX

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.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all bark and no bite

    Full of big talk but lacking action, power, or substance; pretentious.

  2. 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.

  3. 03

    buy a dog and bark oneself

    To do something that one has hired someone else to do.

  4. 04

    call off the dogs

    To ease up on after inflicting great punishment.

  5. 05

    cat's meow

    A self-satisfied person.

  6. 06

    dog my cats

    Used as a mild oath, or as an expression of astonishment

  7. 07

    go to the dogs

    To decline or deteriorate shockingly.

  8. 08

    herd cats

    To attempt to control the uncontrollable; to attempt to manage a great many unruly factors or people to a single end.

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