# look what the cat's dragged in

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/look-what-the-cats-dragged-in
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Used as an ironic acknowledgement of someone's arrival, either jocularly or to imply that they are unwelcome or disagreeable in some way.

## Examples

- Look what the cat's dragged in, you finally arrived.
- Look what the cat's dragged in, you look exhausted after your long trip.
- I turned around to see my brother standing in the doorway and laughed, saying, look what the cat's dragged in.
- My old roommate walked into the party uninvited, and I whispered to my friend, look what the cat's dragged in.
- When the rival coach entered the meeting room, the director joked, look what the cat's dragged in, to break the tension.
- The room fell silent as the disgraced former partner entered, prompting the host to remark with a sharp smile, look what the cat's dragged in.

## Origin

The expression arises from the domestic cat’s habit of presenting the remains of its prey to its owners. It appears in the English lexicon as a comparison between the dishevelled or unwelcome arrival of a person and the state of a small, deceased animal deposited upon a rug.

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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.