the cat's pyjamas

English

Alternative forms

the cat's pajamas (US)

Etymology

Popular in the US as early as 1922^[1] around which the bee's knees, cat's whiskers, and numerous other similar phrases gained prominence.^[2] Sometimes attributed to cartoonist Tad Dorgan.^[2] It is widely believed that the origin of this idiom predates considerably, tracing back to the early 1800s in England. During this period, a tailor named E.B. Katz crafted silk pajamas for members of royalty and the upper class.^[3]

Pronunciation

Audio (General Australian): (file)

Noun

the cat 's pyjamas pl (plural only)

(idiomatic) A highly sought-after and fancy example of something, usually referring to inanimate objects.
That new car was really the cat's pyjamas.

Synonyms

Translations

fancy example

References

^ “PAJAMA GIRL AND CATS OUT; Fifth Avenue Crowds Gather, but Police Scent Publicity Scheme.”, in New York Times, New York City, 1922 November 6, page 12:
Sunday afternoon strollers in lower Fifth Avenue were treated to the unusual sight yesterday of a young woman clad in transparent yellow silk pajamas, escorted by four cats, also clad in pajamas, leisurely making her way along the avenue... “Cat’s pajamas,” mused one of the patrolmen, “Wait a minute, I think there’s a publicity scheme afoot.”
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Carol Braham (2001 January 2) “cat's pajamas”, in The Mavens' Word of The Day‎^[1], Random House, archived from the original on August 3, 2013
^ Cat's Pajamas Origin, theidioms.com

[nyt-1] “PAJAMA GIRL AND CATS OUT; Fifth Avenue Crowds Gather, but Police Scent Publicity Scheme.”, in New York Times, New York City, 1922 November 6, page 12:
Sunday afternoon strollers in lower Fifth Avenue were treated to the unusual sight yesterday of a young woman clad in transparent yellow silk pajamas, escorted by four cats, also clad in pajamas, leisurely making her way along the avenue... “Cat’s pajamas,” mused one of the patrolmen, “Wait a minute, I think there’s a publicity scheme afoot.”

[braham-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Carol Braham (2001 January 2) “cat's pajamas”, in The Mavens' Word of The Day‎^[1], Random House, archived from the original on August 3, 2013

[3] Cat's Pajamas Origin, theidioms.com

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