Six French expressions around cats to use in everyday conversations

Animals are commonly used in French expressions and cats often feature - which is understandable as there are around 15 million pet cats living in France (latest figures available from 2022).

These expressions are not always self-explanatory but they manage to convey a wide variety of meanings. 

Here are six expressions revolving around cats for you to use in everyday conversations. 

Appeler un chat un chat 

‘To call a cat a cat’

This means to call something directly what it is and to not mince words. For example, if you are discussing a friend’s problematic behaviour but everyone is hesitant to directly address it, someone might say ‘bon, appelons un chat un chat’ (‘right, let us call a cat a cat’).

The cat in the original expression did not actually refer to an animal but to female genitalia (which are still nicknamed ‘une chatte’ in French slang). It was therefore to denounce the hypocrisy of society in not directly addressing what various things were.

Avoir un chat dans la gorge 

‘To have a cat in your throat’ 

To have a cat in your throat is to have an uncomfortable or even painful feeling or lump in your throat that can make it difficult to talk or give you a raspy voice. It is the French equivalent of having a frog in your throat. 

It is not exactly clear where this originated from. One theory is that the sound someone makes is similar to that of a cat purring. Another suggests that it originally referred to chas, which is a paste made from wheat. The chas in the throat was therefore a paste that made it difficult speak. 

Read more: French phrases that feature dogs (and some cats)

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

‘When the cat is away, the mice dance’

This expression means that when a figure of authority has left, people may enjoy their freedom and sometimes even break rules. 

The same exists in English: ‘when the cat's away, the mice will play’.

Avoir d’autres chats à fouetter 

‘To have other cats to whip’

If you have other cats to whip, it means that you have something better to do. The equivalent expression in English is ‘to have other fish to fry’. 

For example, if someone is telling you something uninteresting when you are busy, you might say ‘j’ai d’autre chats à fouetter’ (I have other fish to fry equivalent). 

The origin of this expression is most likely not linked to the animal once again, and does not refer to literal whipping. Instead, it is an expression of a sexual nature but that meaning has faded over time. 

A bon chat bon rat 

‘To a good cat a good rat’ 

This expression refers to two well-matched adversaries. The cat refines its hunting skills while the rat refines its evasive skills, and the battle between the two continues. 

It is often used in sporting situations. For example, if you are watching two tennis players play, and one opponent is attacking fantastically and the other still manages to get everything back with their defensive skills, you could say to your neighbour ‘à bon chat bon rat’. 

Read more: Cat compensation case is 'turning point' for animal rights in France

Donner sa langue au chat 

‘To give your tongue to the cat’

If a French person has been asked a quiz question or a riddle and they do not know the answer, then they will say ‘je donne ma langue au chat’ (I give my tongue to the cat). This means that they do not even have a guess to offer and give up on trying to answer. 

It is not exactly clear why someone must give their tongue to a cat particularly, but by giving up the organ needed to speak, you give up your ability to make a guess. 

A similar expression exists in English: ‘has the cat got your tongue?’ The origin of this expression is also not clear and there does not seem to be a direct link between the two expressions.