Since long time ago, a house cat has been valued by humans for companionship and for its ability to hunt rodents. Cats are considered devilish or witchy at the same time, whereas dogs are said to be loyal to humans. Also, being seen snuggling to humans with purr, cats are sometimes used as metaphors of flirts.
Anyway, cats have walked so long a way with us that we have many expressions which contain cats. Please let me show you some of them.
猫(ねこ)の手(て)も借りたい(かりたい)
Farmers are very busy and short-handed at harvest-time. A farmer may have seen a cat taking a heavenly nap.
The farmer wished it could lend a hand, although knowing that a cat’s hand would be the last one which could be of any help.
This saying was seen in a book already in 1724.
● 忙しくて(いそがしくて)猫(ねこ)の手(て)も借りたい(かりたい)くらいだ。
We are so busy we'd take any help we could get.
猫(ねこ)に小判(こばん)
However valuable gold or silver is to you, it means nothing to cats. Don’t waste something good or valuable on someone who won’t appreciate or understand it.
English has a similar saying, “Cast pearls before swine.”
The expression comes from the Bible (Matthew 7:6) and was later used by famous writers such as William Shakespeare and Charles Dickens.
Giving pearls to swine, or pigs, would be foolish.
Its Japanese translation “豚(ぶた)に真珠(しんじゅ)” is as popular as 猫(ねこ)に小判(こばん).
● 味(あじ)音痴(おんち)のあの人(ひと)にそんな上(じょう)等(とう)な焼肉(やきにく)をあげたって、猫(ねこ)に小判(こばん)で、もったいない。
It’s like casting pearls before swine. What a waste to serve him such nice yakiniku as he can’t appreciate the taste of!
猫被り(ねこかぶり)、猫(ねこ)を被る(かぶる)、猫(ねこ)っ被り(かぶり)
This is to behave like a cat, literally. The expression means to hide your nature and pretend to be quiet, innocent or ignorant.
It is like “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
If a wicked wolf wanted to fool people into thinking he was a nice guy, he might disguise himself in a sheep costume. Some may be reminded of a Grimm’s fairy tale, “The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats.”
● 彼女(かのじょ)は愛想(あいそ)良く(よく)しているが、ひょっとしたら猫(ねこ)を被って(かぶって)いるかも知れない(しれない)。
She acts friendly, but she might be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
猫(ねこ)の額(ひたい)
It’s a cat’s forehead, referred to a tiny area.
English has a similar saying, “no room to swing a cat.”
When somebody says there’s no room to swing a cat, they mean that a room is very small and that there is not enough space.
● 猫(ねこ)の額(ひたい)ほどの土地(とち)を買いました(かいました)。
I got a tiny cramped land.
猫(ねこ)可愛がり(かわいがり)
It’s to dote on and spoil somebody endlessly as if they were a pet cat.
● 彼は孫たちを猫可愛がりに可愛がっている。
He just dotes on his grandchildren.
猫舌(ねこじた)
It is referred to someone who can’t eat or drink something hot, like a cat. Children are usually 猫舌(ねこじた). As they grow up, they get used to something hot. However, be careful not to take something too hot so often. It could be a risk of developing cancer.
● 私(わたし)は猫舌(ねこじた)なんです。
My tongue is too sensitive to eat or drink something hot.
猫背(ねこぜ)
It’s a stoop, as if a cat arched its back.
● 彼(かれ)は背(せ)が高い(たかい)ので猫背(ねこぜ)になりがちです。
He tends to stoop because he's so tall.
猫なで(ねこなで)声(ごえ)
It’s a coaxing voice, as when you pet your cat. When you want to something from somebody, you’ll speak in a soft voice to him.
● 彼女(かのじょ)は猫なで(ねこなで)声(ごえ)を使った(つかった)。
Her voice was soft and cajoling.
猫糞(ねこばば)する
This is to appropriate something—to take something, somebody’s ideas, etc. for your own use, especially illegally or without permission, or to pretend to be innocent when you do something offensive.
糞(ふん) is droppings. As cats hide their droppings with sands, the saying originally means to hide something (bad). It’s been in use since early 18th century.
● 彼(かれ)はクラブのお金(かね)を猫糞(ねこばば)した罪(つみ)に問(と)われた。
He was accused of appropriating club funds.
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