Idiom
Cat got your tongue
"Cat got your tongue?" is a teasing question for someone who is unusually quiet or won't answer.
How people use it
People ask it when someone suddenly goes silent, often from shyness, embarrassment or guilt: a child who won't say hello, a friend caught in a small fib. The full form is "Has the cat got your tongue?" but most people shorten it to "Cat got your tongue?" It is always a question, not a statement. It is playful but can feel a little mocking, so use it with people you know well. Adults often say it to children, which can make it sound old-fashioned.
Also said: has the cat got your tongue.
Examples
- You were so chatty this morning; what's wrong, cat got your tongue?
- When the teacher asked who left the paint open, Leo turned red, and she smiled, "Cat got your tongue?"
- Has the cat got your tongue, or are you just thinking about my question?
Where it comes from
No one knows where it comes from. It is recorded in British and American writing from the 1800s, often as something adults said to quiet children. Popular stories about ancient punishments or sailors' whips are colorful, but there is no evidence linking them to the phrase.
Check yourself
1. When might someone ask "Cat got your tongue?"
Answer: When you suddenly stop talking. The question teases someone who is silent or won't answer.
2. What is the tone of cat got your tongue?
Answer: Playful teasing. It is a light, teasing question, though it can sound a bit mocking.
Similar idioms
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