The cat s pajamas is a nonsense phrase but there is some sense behind it.
Cat s pajamas origin.
In the 1920s along with the bee s knees the cat s whiskers possibly from the use of these in radio crystal sets.
Tom s new cadillac is really the cat s pajamas.
Posted by esc usa on july 03 2004.
American cartoonist thomas aloysius tad dorgan is often credited with coining this colorful phrase which is used to refer to someone or something wonderful or remarkable.
Cat s pajamas something or someone highly enjoyable desirable or impressive especially in a fancy or elaborate way.
A slang phrase coined by thomas a.
The term flapper itself had appeared about 1915 although an antecedent meaning of young.
The phrase became popular in the u s.
Also used to describe another person who is genial and fun to be with.
This deli is the cat s pajamas.
An adjective used by hipsters of the 1920 s to describe a person who is the best at what they do.
How did it start.
An illustrated history of words and phrases from our lively and splendid past by stuart berg flexner.
English alternative forms.
Cat s pajamas definition is a highly admired or exceptionally excellent person or thing.
From listening to america.
The cat s pajamas posted by bob dylan on july 03 2004.
This has been used as a term of excellence both in the 1920s and up until today but differs from the other flapper era expressions in that as well as a literal reference to the whiskers of a cat it was the name of the thin tuning wires on early crystal.
In the 1920s the word cat was used as a term to describe the unconventional flappers from the jazz era.
Subscribe to our free daily email and get a new idiom video every day.
It is one of a handful of slang expressions to emerge in the early to mid 1920s featuring animals.
This term has been recently popularized by the movie the school of rock.
The origin of cats pajamas.
In the 1920s the word cat was used as a term to describe the unconventional flappers from the jazz era.
Boy that singer last night was the cat s pajamas wasn t she.
Primarily heard in us south africa.
Dorgan the phrase became popular in the u s.
In the 1920s along with the bee s knees and the cat s whiskers.
There is a related cat expression the cat s whiskers.
Noun plural the best.