Cat Got Your Tongue
Meaning
This question is asked to someone who is unusually quiet, often implying they are speechless from shyness, surprise, or an inability to respond.
Origin
In the grim days of naval punishment, the 'cat o' nine tails' was a brutal multi-tailed whip used to flog sailors. Victims of this instrument of discipline were often left speechless from the excruciating pain and shock, unable to utter a sound. The severe physical trauma rendered them mute, leading onlookers to quip about the 'cat' having literally taken their voice, creating a chilling image of silence enforced by torment. This harrowing maritime practice is believed to have cemented the phrase, making the cat a symbolic thief of speech.
Examples
- During the interrogation, the suspect refused to answer, leading the detective to ask, 'Cat got your tongue?'
- Little Lily was so shy on stage that she just stood there silently until her mom whispered, 'What's wrong, honey? Cat got your tongue?'