General
the cat's pajamas
What does the cat's pajamas mean?
A person who is fashionable, charming, or thoroughly impressive.
"With his slicked hair and sharp suit, he fancied himself the cat's pajamas."
Origin
Part of the same 1920s American slang craze that produced 'the bee's knees.' 'Pajamas' were themselves a fashionable novelty in the era, which gave the phrase extra snap among flappers and college sheiks.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'the cat's pajamas' mean?
It means something excellent or the height of cool. It was a signature compliment in 1920s flapper slang.
Where did 'the cat's pajamas' come from?
From the 1920s fad for absurd animal phrases, helped along by pajamas being a trendy new garment at the time.
Did people really say 'the cat's pajamas'?
Absolutely. It was everywhere in jazz-age America, alongside cousins like 'the cat's meow' and 'the bee's knees.'
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