# play the cat and banjo with

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/play-the-cat-and-banjo-with
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

Synonym of play the devil with.

## Examples

- The heavy rain played the cat and banjo with our garden plans.
- The sudden computer virus played the cat and banjo with all the files I saved for my final presentation.
- The unexpected economic downturn played the cat and banjo with the company's long-term strategy, forcing the board to abandon their expansion goals entirely.

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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.