Log in
Home  »  1100 Words You Need to Know FlashcardsEnglish Vocabulary in Context   »   Cat’s Paw 1100 Words You Need Week 45 Day 3

Cat’s Paw 1100 Words You Need Week 45 Day 3

Last updated on November 29, 2020 | 67 Views | Reading Time: 1 minute

Cat’s Paw 1100 Words You Need Week 45 Day 3

Cat’s Paw 1100 Words You Need Week 45 Day 3

a person who is used by another as a tool or dupe to carry out an unpleasant or dangerous task, pawn, puppet, stooge, minion, lapdog

A dupe, a sucker who does another person’s dirty work. The term comes from an ancient tale about a monkey who wanted to get some roasted chestnuts out of the fire and, not wanting to burn his own fingers, got his friend the cat to use his paws for this purpose. There are numerous versions of the story in various languages; often it is a dog that is made the dupe, but in English it is the cat’s paw that has stuck over the years. Also see pull the chestnuts.

Source: https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/


About Dr. Mohammad Hossein Hariri Asl

Dr. Mohammad Hossein Hariri Asl is an English and Persian instructor, researcher, inventor, author, blogger, SEO expert, website developer, and the creator of LELB Society. He's got a PhD in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language). Study our guest posting guidelines for authors.

View All 3982 Posts by this Author »

We respond to all comments immediately. View the 30 newest comments and new topics in forums.

Leave a Comment

10 + eight =