When the Cat's Away, the Mice will Play

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When the Cat's Away, the Mice will Play

Without the presence of authority, people will do as they please even of breaking the rules

Etymology:

This idiom has been used in many languages since the 17th century. It is natural that if there is a cat in the house, the mice are very reluctant to come out of holes. On the other hand, of the cat is not in the home, mice often tend to feel safer and rarely hide. The expression uses “the cat” as an authoritative figure to describe the situation when the authority is not present on the occasion.

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As soon as the parents left, the children started a fight. When the cat’s away, the mice will play.

Collection Edit

Submitted on February 25, 2019

Translation

Find a translation for the When the Cat's Away, the Mice will Play phrase in other languages:

عندما تكون القطة بعيدة ، ستلعب الفئران

Wenn die Katze weg ist, spielen die Mäuse

kiam la kato estos for, la musoj ludos

cuando el gato no está, los ratones jugarán

kun kissa on poissa, hiiret leikkivät

Quand le chat n'est pas là, les souris dansent

amikor a macska távol van, az egerek játszanak

երբ կատուն հեռու է, մկները կխաղան

saat kucing pergi, tikus akan bermain

quando il gatto è via, i topi giocheranno

猫がいないときはねずみが遊ぶ

cum cattus scriptor absente mures et ludere

når katten er borte, vil musene leke

gdy kota nie będzie, myszy będą grać

când pisica va fi departe, șoarecii vor juca

когда кошка уйдет, мыши будут играть

när katten är borta kommer mössen att spela

جب بلی دور ہوجائے گی ، چوہے کھیلے گیں

Khi mèo đi, chuột sẽ chơi

當貓離開時，老鼠會玩

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Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to When the Cat's Away, the Mice will Play

walk away wash away walk away walk away from word play who's 'she', the cat's mother%3f waste away wear away when the cat's away the mice will play walk away while away your day wither away two can play this game where away

How to pronounce this phrase?

Alex
US English
David
US English
Mark
US English
Daniel
British
Libby
British
Mia
British
Karen
Australian
Hayley
Australian
Natasha
Australian
Veena
Indian
Priya
Indian
Neerja
Indian
Zira
US English
Oliver
British
Wendy
British
Fred
US English
Tessa
South African

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"When the Cat's Away, the Mice will Play." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Dec. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/when-the-cats-away,-the-mice-will-play_45131>.

When the Cat's Away, the Mice will Play

Etymology:

Translation

Find a translation for the When the Cat's Away, the Mice will Play phrase in other languages:

Nearby phrases

Some more phrases from our dictionary similar to When the Cat's Away, the Mice will Play

How to pronounce this phrase?

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