Cat Got Your Tongue?
"Cat got your tongue?" is a playful way of asking why someone is quiet. In Appalachian and Southern speech, it’s used with kids or anyone who suddenly goes silent.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Cat got your tongue?' I can remember elders sayin' that to me when I was a young'un. I never understood. Hillbilly Dude Says...
'Cat got your tongue?' I can remember elders sayin' that to me when I was a young'un. I never understood. Pronunciation
[cat got yer TUNG]
Meaning & Usage
- Why are you so quiet? (saying)
Mae:
You ain’t said a word all night.
You ain’t said a word all night.
Earl:
What’s wrong - cat got your tongue?
What’s wrong - cat got your tongue?variations: why so quiet, speechless, tongue-tied, can’t talk, silent as a stone, what’s the matter
★ It’s usually meant playfully, but can sometimes carry a scolding edge if someone refuses to speak up. ★
Origin and Etymology
The phrase shows up in English by the 1800s, possibly from the image of a cat catching hold of the tongue. Some link it to the "cat-o’-nine-tails" whip used as punishment, though that’s debated. Appalachia picked it up along with other English proverbs.
Usage Notes
Not unique to Appalachia, but common in Southern and mountain talk, especially with children. Still recognized widely across the U.S.
Say It Like a Southerner
Say it teasing, with a raised brow: "Cat got your tongue?"
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, August 26). Cat Got Your Tongue?. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/cat-got-your-tongue
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "Cat Got Your Tongue?." HillbillySlang.com, 26 Aug. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/cat-got-your-tongue.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "Cat Got Your Tongue?." HillbillySlang.com. August 26, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/sayings/cat-got-your-tongue.
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