Cat's pajamas
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The cat's pajamas (or pyjamas) is an English slang phrase coined by Thomas A. Dorgan. The phrase means "the height of excellence". It became popular in the U.S. in the 1920s,[1] [2] along with bee's knees, "the cat's whiskers" (possibly from the use of these in radio crystal sets), and similar phrases that didn't endure: "the eel's ankle", "the elephant's instep", "the snake's hip" and "the capybara's spats".[3]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20010102
- ^ http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cats+pajamas
- ^ Mark Israel, 'Phrase Origins: "The bee's knees"' alt.usage.english FAQ file, (line 4407), (29 Sept 1997). http://www.exw6sxq.com/sparky/aue_related/full_faq.html
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