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.

Dictionary Entries Near like the cat that ate/got/swallowed the canary

like that

like the cat that ate/got/swallowed the canary

like the cat that got the cream

Cite this Entry

“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 5 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!