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UKlike a cat on a hot tin roof
/lˈaɪk ɐ kˈat ˌɒn ɐ hˈɒt tˈɪn ɹˈuːf/
/lˈaɪk ɐ kˈæt ˌɑːn ɐ hˈɑːt tˈɪn ɹˈuːf/like a cat on a hot tin roof
[PHRASE]
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.
Examples
1. She was like a cat on hot bricks before her driving test.
2. I feel all the time like a cat on a hot tin roof.
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