CAT PROVERBS. 191 



The more yo2i rub a cat on the back, the higher she sets 

 her tail. Praise the vain and they are more than pleased. 

 Flattery and vanity are near akin. 



The mouse lords it where the cat is 7iot. — MS., 15th 

 century. The little rule, where there are no great. 



The old cat laps as much as the young. — Clarke. One 

 evil is much like another. 



They agree like two cats in gutter. — Heywood. To be 

 less than friends. 



They argiie like cats and dogs. That is to quarrel. 



TliouUt strip it, as Stack stripped the cat when he pulled 

 her out of the churti. To take away everything. 



Though the cat winks awhile, yet sure he is not blind. 

 To know all and pretend ignorance. 



To grin like a Cheshire cat. Said to be like a cheese 

 cat, often made in Cheshire ; but this is not very clear, and 

 the meaning doubtful. 



To go like a cat on a hot bakestone. To lose no time. 

 To be swift and stay not. 



To keep a cat from the tongs. To stop at home in 

 idleness. It is said of a youth who stays at home with his 

 family, when others go to the wars abroad, in " A Health 

 to the Gentlemanly Profession of Serving Men," 1598. 



Too late repents the rat when caught by the cat. Shun 

 danger, nor dare too long. 



To love it as a cat loves mustard. Not at all. To 

 abhor. 



Two cats and a mouse, two wives in one house, two dogs 

 a?id one bone, never agree. No peace when all want to be 

 masters, or to possess one object. 



Well might the cat wink when both her eyes were out. 

 " Sumwhat it was sayeth the proverbe old. 

 That the cat winked when here iye was out." 



Jack Juggler, edit. 1848, p. 46. 

 Those bribed are worse than blind. 



