cat got one's tongue



cat got one's tongue

A comment made when someone is unaccountably or unusually quiet, as in We haven't heard from you all morning-has the cat got your tongue? Often put as a question, this term originally was used mainly with a child who did something wrong and refused to answer any questions. Today it is used more generally to ask anyone to speak. [Mid-1800s]
See also: cat, tongue

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
NadİYe-Turkish
RÚNi-Ancient Scandinavian
Zoe['zəui]
LissaLIS-əEnglish
Frost[frɔst]
Miran-Slovene