cat that ate the canary

idiom

The idiom "cat that ate the canary" is used to describe someone who looks smug or self-satisfied, often because they've done something mischievous or deceitful.

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Definition

C1General

(informal)Someone who looks smug or pleased with themselves, often after doing something mischievous or deceitful.

Example

After winning the bet, he had the look of a cat that ate the canary.
She walked in with a grin like the cat that ate the canary, making everyone wonder what she was up to.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "cat that ate the canary":

hairy canary cat around fat cat canary bird cat's meow dead cat cat in the pan great cat care killed the cat cool cat cat and mouse cat meat big cat