A Cat Has Nine Lives Meaning
Definition: Cats are lucky and often survive dangerous incidents.
Origin of A Cat Has Nine Lives
This myth is most likely related to the fact that falling cats can twist in midair and land on their feet. This leads people to say that cats have multiple lives because they can survive falling from great heights.
There is also a lot of speculation about the number nine in this expression and where it originated. Some people think it is related to the ancient Egyptians, who valued cats highly. Others mention that nine was an important number to the Greeks. Others point to the Celtic myth of the Cat Sith, which was a witch that could transform into a cat nine times. However, it is hard to say for sure.
Examples of A Cat Has Nine Lives
Here is an example of two coworkers talking about their pet cats.
Regina: Do you have any cats?
Ginny: Yes, I have two kittens that I just adopted from the shelter.
Regina: How cute! How old are they?
Ginny: They’re brothers, so they are both four months old.
Regina: I just love kittens.
Ginny: Me too. Thank goodness that cats have nine lives, though. They are always finding trouble.
Regina: How so?
Ginny: Just the other day they ran out the door when I came home. They ran right into the street. Luckily, the oncoming traffic stopped for them.
Regina: That is lucky!
In this example, two friends are discussing whether dogs or cats make the better pets.
Kevin: I’m thinking about adopting a dog.
Steve: Really? Cats make much better pets.
Kevin: Why do you say that?
Steve: They’re more independent, so you don’t have to spend so much time taking care of them. Also, they say cats have nine lives, so they’re less likely to die in an accident.
Kevin: I guess that’s good. But dogs offer more protection, and I live in a dangerous neighborhood.
More Examples
This example is about the American movie star, Leonardo DiCaprio. He has almost died multiple times.
“If a cat has nine lives, I think I’ve used a few,” he joked to WIRED in 2015. –New York Daily News
In this second example, the article describes how a kitten was stuck on a highway and was almost hit 13 times before a man rescues it.
- It is said a cat has nine lives. And this is the astonishing moment a lucky kitten uses all of them up, and then some, before being rescued by a heroic passer-by. –Daily Mail
Summary
A cat has nine lives describes the perception that cats often seem to escape dangerous situations safely.
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