Grin like a Cheshire Cat 😸
Definition:
To smile broadly, often in a mischievous or enigmatic way.
Possible Origins:
- Cheshire County Cheese: Sold in the shape of a wheel, perhaps once molded to resemble a cat’s grinning face.
- Caterling Theory: A Cheshire forest ranger named Caterling using a fierce grin to scare off poachers.
- Lewis Carroll’s Legacy: Popularized by the Cheshire Cat in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Related Terms:
- Smirk: A smug or conceited smile.
- Beam: An exceptionally broad smile.
- Smile from ear to ear: A smile that is very wide and happy.
Similar Expressions:
- Look like the cat that swallowed the canary: To look smug and self-satisfied.
- All grins: To be extremely happy or pleased.
- Beaming ear to ear: Sporting a very wide smile.
Inspirational / Witty Quotes:
- “I can sympathize with people’s pains, but not with their smiles.” – Luis Bunuel
- “Start every day with a smile and get it over with.” – W.C. Fields
- “A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.” – Phyllis Diller
Proverbs:
- “Smile, and the world smiles with you.”
- “A smile is the shortest distance between two people.”
Suggested Literature:
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
- Vanity Fair by William Thackeray
- Essays of Elia by Charles Lamb
Songs:
- “Smile” by Nat King Cole
- “When You’re Smiling” by Louis Armstrong
Movies:
- Alice in Wonderland (1951)
- Cheshire Cat (Short Animation by Hilary Jahoda)
Poetry:
- “The Smile” by William Blake
- Grinning” (from “Sonnets to Orpheus II, 29”) by Rainer Maria Rilke
### Which literary work made "grin like a Cheshire cat" most famous?
- [ ] Vanity Fair
- [ ] Essays of Elia
- [x] Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
> **Explanation:** The idiom was popularized significantly by Lewis Carroll's iconic *Alice's Adventures in Wonderland*, where the whimsical Cheshire Cat displays its enigmatic grin.
### Which of the following is a related term to "grin like a Cheshire cat"?
- [x] Smirk
- [ ] Frown
- [ ] Yawn
> **Explanation:** "Smirk" is a related term as it involves a type of smile. Whereas "frown" and "yawn" are expressions quite opposite to smiling broadly.
### True or False: "Grin like a Cheshire cat" can sometimes imply a mischievous smile.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True. The phrase often connotes a smile that is not just broad, but also somewhat mysterious or mischievous.
### Which phrase means "to look very smug and self-satisfied?"
- [ ] Smile from ear to ear
- [x] Look like the cat that swallowed the canary
- [ ] Beam
> **Explanation:** "Look like the cat that swallowed the canary" fits this meaning perfectly, as it represents having a smug and satisfied expression.
### Which idiom means to smile extremely broadly?
- [x] Beaming ear to ear
- [ ] A bitter pill to swallow
- [ ] Turn over a new leaf
> **Explanation:** "Beaming ear to ear" refers to an exceptionally broad smile, conveying significant happiness or satisfaction.
Farewell, dear reader. Remember, the world might not always hand you reasons to grin, but when it does, make sure you do it like a Cheshire cat. Keep smiling, for the journey of language is as delightful as a well-timed grin.
- Penelope Punner, October 2023
