Proverb – When the cat’s away, the mice will play (or while the cat’s away…).
When the person in charge isn’t there, people will break the rules or do as they please. If the teacher or boss leaves the room, the students or workers may stop working and start messing around!
It’s often shortened to “When the cat’s away…” – everyone knows how it ends. It can also be used jokily about a partner who behaves differently when the other is away.
Cat Expressions:
- Cat (photo vocabulary)
- Cat got your tongue? (idiom)
- Copycat (idiom)
- Let the cat out of the bag (idiom)
- Moggy (slang)
- Raining cats and dogs (idiom)
Example:
- “The manager went on holiday and the whole team started taking two-hour lunches. When the cat’s away, the mice will play!“
In the News
Spotted in the news“…when the cat’s away, the mice will play…”investingdaily.comWhat is a proverb?
A proverb is short, useful and well known expression. A proverb will state a general or obvious truth or a useful piece of advice. A proverb might teach you how to have a good life. A proverb may teach you to be healthy or kind.
Love animal idioms? See our full list of 50 animal idioms in English, with meanings and examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
When the person in charge is absent, people misbehave or ignore the rules.
Yes. “When the cat’s away…” is very common, because everyone knows the ending.
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