like the cat that ate/got/swallowed the canary

idiom

US
used to say that someone looks very proud or satisfied about something he or she has done
After pointing out his teacher's mistake, he smiled like the cat that ate the canary.

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“Like the cat that ate/got/swallowed the canary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/like%20the%20cat%20that%20ate%2Fgot%2Fswallowed%20the%20canary. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

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