look what the cat's dragged in
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From the habit of domestic cats of bringing home the remains of killed animals
Phrase
look what the cat's dragged in!
- (idiomatic) Used as an ironic acknowledgement of someone's arrival, especially to imply that they are unwelcome or disagreeable in some way
Usage notes
- To look like something the cat's dragged in is to be dishevelled or very untidy.