cat’s meow

C

cat’s meow (idiomatic slang / informal noun phrase)
/ðə ˌkæts ˈmiːaʊ/

Synopsis

“Cat’s meow” means something or someone outstanding or excellent; for example, “That new sports car is the cat’s meow.” The phrase originated in 1920s America and was popularized by cartoonist Thomas A. Dorgan during the Jazz Age.

Meanings

• Something or someone considered outstanding, admirable, or excellent.
• A thing thought to be wonderful, fashionable, or trendy.
• (Dated, playful) A stylish expression of approval used in the 1920s to describe something first-rate.

Synonyms: wonderful; terrific; outstanding; the cat’s pajamas; the bee’s knees; the cat’s whiskers.

Example Sentences

1. Everyone said the new café was the cat’s meow after its grand opening; the pastries and music were perfect.
2. For her, that vintage dress was the cat’s meow — she wore it proudly to every special occasion.
3. Back in the Roaring Twenties, flappers used the cat’s meow to describe anything classy or top-notch. (dated)

Origin and History

Etymological Roots

Etymologically, the phrase draws from the onomatopoeic representation of a cat’s vocalization, “meow,” which itself traces back to mid-nineteenth-century English imitations of animal sounds. The construction “the cat’s meow” likely arose as a hyperbolic extension, likening the most pleasing or noteworthy attribute to the cat’s distinctive call. Scholars posit that this feline imagery was chosen for its inherent cuteness and familiarity, transforming a simple animal noise into a metaphor for the epitome of desirability. No deeper mythological or folkloric origins have been substantiated, underscoring its status as a product of modern colloquial invention rather than ancient tradition.

Theories of Origin

Several theories illuminate the phrase’s genesis, with the predominant view attributing its coinage to the inventive lexicon of early twentieth-century American cartoonist Thomas A. Dorgan, known for popularizing numerous slang terms through his comic strips. Dorgan’s work, rife with jazz-age whimsy, is believed to have introduced “the cat’s meow” alongside kindred expressions like “the cat’s pajamas,” both implying superlative excellence in a lighthearted vein. Alternative speculations suggest organic emergence from vaudeville circuits or flapper subcultures, where rapid-fire slang proliferated to capture fleeting trends. These accounts converge on a shared belief in the phrase’s roots in performative arts, where exaggerated praise amplified social camaraderie.

Historical Development

Historically, the phrase flourished amid the cultural effervescence of the 1920s, a decade marked by Prohibition-era revelry, jazz proliferation, and the rise of youthful defiance against Victorian restraint. It became emblematic of flapper lexicon, adorning conversations in speakeasies and print media as a shorthand for anything “swell” or avant-garde—from fashion to automobiles. By the mid-1920s, its ubiquity prompted institutional backlash, as vaudeville managers issued edicts against its overuse in performances. The idiom’s trajectory reflects broader shifts in American identity, from post-war optimism to the commodification of coolness, persisting sporadically in mid-century literature and film before resurging in nostalgic revivals.

Country of Inception

The phrase unequivocally originated in the United States, burgeoning within the urban melting pots of New York and Chicago during the early Jazz Age. Its ties to American vaudeville, cartooning, and Prohibition-era nightlife firmly anchor it in transatlantic cultural exports, distinguishing it from contemporaneous British slang. This national provenance underscores the U.S. role as a crucible for twentieth-century idiomatic innovation, influenced by immigrant rhythms and domestic exuberance.

Early Documentary Evidence

The earliest known printed use of “cat’s meow” appears in 1921. A short newsletter from that year includes the line:

“A good letter, Quig, one like that every month would be the ‘cat’s meow.’ “

This citation is widely regarded as the first appearance of the phrase in print.

Another early example occurs in a Louisiana newspaper dated September 11, 1921:

“Douglas looked like the cat’s meow, all dolled up in a nice gray flannel yachting suit and everything …”

These instances demonstrate that the phrase was already circulating colloquially in 1921 to describe something or someone admirable or fashionable.

Variants

• cat’s pajamas
• bee’s knees
• cat’s whiskers

Cat, Fashion, Good