習(xí)語078:Cat Got Your Tongue 無言以對

Meaning/Usage: Used when someone has nothing to say

Explanation: One explanation is that a long time ago, a witches cat would steal the tongue of a person to prevent them from telling others. However, this is only a tale and there are many guesses where this idiomatic phrase came from. Regardless, it is frequently used by someone who has the upper hand in a conversation. If a person cannot counter, or has nothing to say, then the other person can ask "don't you have anything to say?" or "Cat got your tongue?"

"What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"
"You're being awfully quiet, cat got your tongue?"
"She usually always has an opinion, cat must have gotten her tongue."

A. "What's the matter? You're usually full of advice. Cat got your tongue?"
B. "No I'm just keeping my opinions to myself."

Other Common Sentences

"You have nothing to say?"
"Why are you so quiet?"