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UKlook / feel like something the cat bring / drag in
/lˈʊk fˈiːl lˈaɪk sˈʌmθɪŋ ðə kˈat bɹˈɪŋ dɹˈaɡ ˈɪn/
/lˈʊk fˈiːl lˈaɪk sˈʌmθɪŋ ðə kˈæt bɹˈɪŋ dɹˈæɡ ˈɪn/to look / feel like something the cat bring / drag in
[PHRASE]
![to [look|feel] like something the cat [bring|drag] in definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/39657/original/ "to [look|feel] like something the cat [bring|drag] in definition and meaning")
What is the origin of the idiom "look like something the cat brings in" and when to use it?
The origin of this phrase is not entirely clear, but it is believed to have emerged in the UK in the 19th century. At that time, it was common for domestic cats to bring in small animals they had caught as gifts for their owners, often leaving the dead or injured creatures on the doorstep. This behavior may have led to the association of cats with unclean or unpleasant things, which in turn led to be used in a humorous or teasing way of a person who looks dirty or disheveled.
Examples
1. They feel like something the cat dragged in after a strenuous workout, sore and fatigued.
2. She looks like something the cat dragged in after a long night of partying, with smudged makeup and tired eyes.
3. The saying that looks like something the cat dragged in describes something in bad condition.
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