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like a cat on a hot tin roof
01
used to describe someone who is in a very agitated state of mind
What is the origin of the idiom "like a cat on a hot tin roof" and when to use it?
The phrase "like a cat on a hot tin roof" originated from Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning play, "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," which was first performed in 1955. The phrase gained popularity through the play's success and has since become a widely recognized idiom used in various contexts to depict someone who is highly agitated, nervous, or restless. The image of a cat on a hot surface, constantly moving and seeking relief, serves as a metaphor for the restless and uneasy state of the individual being described.
Example
She's pacing back and forth, like a cat on a hot tin roof, unable to sit still before her important presentation.
He was like a cat on a hot tin roof when he was waiting for the exam results, unable to relax until he received them.
I'll be pacing around the room, like a cat on a hot tin roof, until I hear back about the job interview.
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