今天题目这句话什么意思，你猜猜？

字面直译是“怎么了，猫叼走了你的舌头吗？”

这是一句地道的英文俗语，用来调侃或询问某人为什么保持沉默或不回应，意思类似中文口语“怎么不说话，你哑巴了？”（*此处仅为引用中文口语，绝无对残障人士不敬之意）

使用场景

当某人被期待发言却保持沉默时，这句习语常被用来“催促”对方开口，通常用于轻松、友好的场合，带着一点调皮的意味。

例如，如果有人问你一个问题，你却没有回答，对方可能会笑着问你：“What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?”以此来打破沉默，并提醒你对方还等着你说话呢。

词源

这个说法的确切起源没有定论，下面两种来源说供你参考：

1. 中世纪的惩罚说

有一种理论认为，这句习语可能与中世纪的海军惩罚有关。

当时，英国海军使用一种叫做“九尾猫”（cat-o’-nine-tails）的鞭子来惩罚水手。这种鞭子的鞭打极其痛苦，可能让受害者痛得说不出话，仿佛“猫”夺走了他们的舌头。

这一理论将习语的起源与航海文化联系起来，但缺乏直接的文献证据。

2. 古埃及的神话传说

猫在古埃及被视为神圣的动物，与神灵相关。一些民间故事提到，撒谎者或罪人的舌头可能会被割下来喂猫作为惩罚。

这个说法也缺乏证据。

这句习语主要在以英语为母语的国家使用，尤其在非正式场合。它反映了英语文化中对猫的迷恋，猫常被视为神秘或淘气的动物。

下面这些与猫有关的英文习语/成语看看你知道几个，大多数都在以前的文章中陆续讲过：

• Let the cat out of the bag
• Meaning: To reveal a secret, often unintentionally.
• Example: She let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
• Curiosity killed the cat
• Meaning: Being too curious can lead to trouble or danger.
• Example: Don’t ask too many questions—curiosity killed the cat!
• The cat’s pajamas (or The cat’s meow)
• Meaning: Something or someone outstanding, excellent, or highly admired.
• Example: That new dress is the cat’s pajamas!
• Like a cat on a hot tin roof
• Meaning: To be nervous, restless, or jumpy.
• Example: He was pacing like a cat on a hot tin roof before the exam.
• Raining cats and dogs
• Meaning: A very heavy downpour or intense rain.
• Example: We can’t go outside—it’s raining cats and dogs!
• When the cat’s away, the mice will play
• Meaning: People misbehave or take advantage when authority is absent.
• Example: The kids threw a party when their parents were gone—when the cat’s away, the mice will play.
• Like herding cats
• Meaning: Describing a difficult or impossible task of organizing chaotic or uncooperative people.
• Example: Managing that team is like herding cats.
• A cat in gloves catches no mice
• Meaning: Being overly cautious or polite can prevent success.
• Example: You need to be assertive in negotiations—a cat in gloves catches no mice.
• Not enough room to swing a cat
• Meaning: A very small or cramped space.
• Example: The apartment was so tiny, there wasn’t room to swing a cat.
• Look like something the cat dragged in
• Meaning: To look disheveled, messy, or exhausted.
• Example: After the long hike, he looked like something the cat dragged in.
• Play cat and mouse
• Meaning: To engage in a teasing or tactical game of pursuit, often with deception.
• Example: The detective and the suspect were playing cat and mouse during the interrogation.
• Put the cat among the pigeons
• Meaning: To cause trouble or stir up a controversy.
• Example: Her comment about the project’s failure put the cat among the pigeons.
• Fat cat
• Meaning: A wealthy, influential, or privileged person, often used negatively.
• Example: The fat cats in the company got bonuses while the workers got nothing.
• Cool cat
• Meaning: A stylish, confident, or laid-back person.
• Example: He’s such a cool cat, always calm under pressure.

连续两天写了猫，看来离家十几天，有点想念Kitty了