cat that ate the canary

cat that ate the canary
a) A person who appears self-satisfied or smug, especially while concealing something mischievous, prohibited, or private.

He talked freely and carried the smile of the cat that swallowed the canary.

b) A person whose appearance and behavior suggest guilt mixed with other qualities, such as satisfaction or feigned nonchalance.

You have to hand it to Curtis Joseph. Not only does he keep pucks out of the net, he keeps secrets too. "Its taboo," said Joseph, grinning like the cat that ate the canary. "Youre not going to get anything."


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  • look\ like\ the\ cat\ that\ ate\ the\ canary — • look like the cat that ate the canary • look like the cat that swallowed the canary v. phr. To seem very self satisfied; look as if you had just had a great success. Peter bet on the poorest horse in the race and when it won, he looked like the …   Словарь американских идиом

  • like the cat that ate the canary — see ↑cat • • • Main Entry: ↑canary * * * like a cat that s got the ˈcream f8 idiom (BrE) (US like the cat that got/at …   Useful english dictionary

  • look like the cat that ate the canary — or[look like the cat that swallowed the canary] {v. phr.} To seem very self satisfied; look as if you had just had a great success. * /Peter bet on the poorest horse in the race and when it won, he looked like the cat that ate the canary./ *… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • look like the cat that ate the canary — or[look like the cat that swallowed the canary] {v. phr.} To seem very self satisfied; look as if you had just had a great success. * /Peter bet on the poorest horse in the race and when it won, he looked like the cat that ate the canary./ *… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • like the cat that ate the canary —    If, after an achievement or success, a person seems very self satisfied or pleased with themselves, you can say that they look like the cat that ate the canary.     When the boss complimented him on his work, Steve looked like the cat that ate …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • look like the cat that ate the canary — • look like the cat that ate/swallowed the canary seem very self satisified like you have just had some kind of success He looked like the cat that ate the canary when he came in with a smile on his face …   Idioms and examples

  • look\ like\ the\ cat\ that\ swallowed\ the\ canary — • look like the cat that ate the canary • look like the cat that swallowed the canary v. phr. To seem very self satisfied; look as if you had just had a great success. Peter bet on the poorest horse in the race and when it won, he looked like the …   Словарь американских идиом

  • look like the cat that swallowed the canary — • look like the cat that ate/swallowed the canary seem very self satisified like you have just had some kind of success He looked like the cat that ate the canary when he came in with a smile on his face …   Idioms and examples

  • like the cat that ate/got/swallowed the canary — (US) (or Brit like the cat that got the cream) used to say that someone looks very proud or satisfied about something he or she has done After pointing out his teacher s mistake, he smiled like the cat that ate the canary. • • • Main Entry: ↑cat …   Useful english dictionary

  • like the cat that got the canary — like a cat that s got the ˈcream f8 idiom (BrE) (US like the cat that got/ate/swallowed the canˈary) very pleased with yourself Syn: ↑smug …   Useful english dictionary

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