English Idiom – Like the cat that got the cream.
Looking very pleased with yourself because something good has happened to you.
Tom passed his driving test first time, and he hasn’t stopped grinning all week. He looks like the cat that got the cream!
Before fridges, fresh milk was left to stand so the cream rose to the top. Cream was the richest, tastiest part of the milk, and cats loved it. Picture a cat that has just sneaked a bowl of cream: it sits there licking its lips, looking very satisfied with itself. That happy, slightly smug look is exactly what this idiom describes. It’s mainly used in British English. In American English, people more often say like the cat that ate the canary.
How to Use It
- It usually follows look, grin or smile: “She was grinning like the cat that got the cream.”
- It’s great for teasing a friend who looks too happy: “Why are you looking like the cat that got the cream? What’s happened?”
- You’ll sometimes hear just the cat that got the cream, without like: “Since his promotion, he’s been the cat that got the cream.”
Note: this idiom often suggests someone is a little smug, not just happy. They’re pleased with themselves, and everyone can see it!
More cat idioms: Let the Cat Out of the Bag, Cat Got Your Tongue? and When the Cat’s Away, the Mice Will Play.
Example:
- “Tom’s been grinning like the cat that got the cream since he passed his driving test!”
- “When they announced she’d won the award, Sarah sat there looking like the cat that got the cream.”
- “My brother got the last slice of cake, and he’s been walking around like the cat that got the cream all evening.”
Learn More
Look it upLike the cat that got the cream – Merriam-Webstermerriam-webster.comWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Love animal idioms? See our full list of 50 animal idioms in English, with meanings and examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
It means looking very pleased with yourself because something good has happened to you. It often suggests the person looks a little smug.
Yes, it is mainly used in British English. In American English, people more often say “like the cat that ate the canary”.
Cream was the richest, tastiest part of fresh milk, and cats loved it. A cat that has sneaked some cream looks very satisfied, so the idiom describes that same pleased look on a person’s face.
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