😺 Like the Cat That Swallowed the Canary: Looking Smug yet Guilty!
Definition:
cat that swallowed the canary, (look) like the - Look both smug and guilty. The analogy dates back to the mid-nineteenth century and was used by many writers, especially mystery writers (Dashiel Hammett among them), in the first half of the twentieth century.
Synonyms:
- Mischievous look
- Grin like a Cheshire cat
- Look as pleased as Punch
Antonyms:
- Innocent as a lamb
- Blameless and pure
- Wide-eyed and guilt-free
Witty Quote:
“Secrets, secrets, are so much fun…until you look like the cat that swallowed the canary.” — Anonymous
Related Expressions:
- Grin like a Cheshire cat: To have a very wide, mischievous smile. Think of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and the Cheshire Cat’s famous grin.
- Caught red-handed: Caught in the act of doing something wrong. Perfect for mystery lovers!
- As guilty as a dog next to a pile of chewed-up slippers: A more contemporary and relatable version.
Proverbs:
- “A guilty conscience needs no accuser” — A reminder that often, we don’t need anyone else to tell us when we’ve done something wrong; we already know, deep inside.
References in Literature:
- “The Maltese Falcon” by Dashiell Hammett: Classic detective fiction where smugness and guilt often go hand-in-hand.
- “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens: Sydney Carton’s complex expressions often reveal guilt mixed with other emotions.
Music and Movies:
- “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson: A legendary song that captures the essence of being both smug and guilty.
- “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” (1988): Eddie Valiant and the Weasels embody the expression, caught in various acts of mischief.
Inspirational Farewell:
May you laugh through language, think through metaphors, and always find the joy of a canary in your heart—and never get caught swallowing it!
### Which of these is a real idiom?
- [x] Like the cat that swallowed the canary
- [ ] Grinning like a shoe rack
- [ ] Dancing with flamingo feathers
- [ ] Jumping across moonbeams
> **Explanation:** "Like the cat that swallowed the canary" is a genuine idiom depicting a sly, self-satisfied look. The others? Just whimsical nonsense.
### Which phrase means feeling smug yet guilty?
- [x] Like the cat that swallowed the canary
- [ ] As innocent as a knight in shining armor
- [ ] Singing in the rain
- [ ] Swimming with dolphins
> **Explanation:** The phrase "like the cat that swallowed the canary" captures a feeling of smugness mixed with the knowledge of wrongdoing.
### True or False: 'Grin like a Cheshire cat' has the same meaning as 'look like the cat that swallowed the canary'
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** While they both include a mischievous smile, "grin like a Cheshire cat" does not imply guilt, whereas "look like the cat that swallowed the canary" does.
