cat's meow

English

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˌkætsmiˈaʊ̯/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• While "meow" is often pronounced in one syllable /mjaʊ̯/, in this phrase it is almost always pronounced in two syllables /miˈaʊ̯/.

Noun

cat's meow

1. (idiomatic, dated) A self-satisfied person.
2. (idiomatic) A highly sought-after and fancy example of something.

   Synonyms: (slang) cat's ass, (slang) kitty's titties; see also Thesaurus:best

   That new car was really the cat’s meow.

   • 1922 August 6, New York Times:

     The flapper tells her “cakie” that a Chauve Souris sundae is “just the cat’s meow”.

Related terms

• dogs bark, cats meow