The term flapper itself had appeared about 1915 although an antecedent meaning of young.
Cat s pajamas origin.
An adjective used by hipsters of the 1920 s to describe a person who is the best at what they do.
In the 1920s along with the bee s knees and the cat s whiskers.
The phrase became popular in the u s.
This term has been recently popularized by the movie the school of rock.
American cartoonist thomas aloysius tad dorgan is often credited with coining this colorful phrase which is used to refer to someone or something wonderful or remarkable.
An illustrated history of words and phrases from our lively and splendid past by stuart berg flexner.
Cat s pajamas something or someone highly enjoyable desirable or impressive especially in a fancy or elaborate way.
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In the 1920s the word cat was used as a term to describe the unconventional flappers from the jazz era.
English alternative forms.
How to use cat s pajamas in a sentence.
Posted by esc usa on july 03 2004.
The cat s pajamas is first recorded in 1920 as part of the typical vocabulary of the flappers young women whose avant garde wardrobe and free spirited disregard for popular mores epitomized the spirit of the roaring twenties.
How did it start.
The origin of cats pajamas.
It is one of a handful of slang expressions to emerge in the early to mid 1920s featuring animals.
There is a related cat expression the cat s whiskers.
Where did it start.
Primarily heard in us south africa.
In the 1920s the word cat was used as a term to describe the unconventional flappers from the jazz era.
Also used to describe another person who is genial and fun to be with.
This deli is the cat s pajamas.
A slang phrase coined by thomas a.
This has been used as a term of excellence both in the 1920s and up until today but differs from the other flapper era expressions in that as well as a literal reference to the whiskers of a cat it was the name of the thin tuning wires on early crystal.
From listening to america.
The cat s pajamas is a nonsense phrase but there is some sense behind it.
Cat s pajamas definition is a highly admired or exceptionally excellent person or thing.
In the 1920s along with the bee s knees the cat s whiskers possibly from the use of these in radio crystal sets.
Boy that singer last night was the cat s pajamas wasn t she.
The cat s pajamas posted by bob dylan on july 03 2004.