cat that ate the canary

alternative cat that swallowed the canary

1. idiomaticA person who appears self-satisfied or smug, especially while concealing something mischievous, prohibited, or private.

   He talked freely and carried the smile of the cat that swallowed the canary.

   1910 April 30, “Cotton Bulls Stand Shock of Deliveries”, in New York Times, page 2

   2 more examples

   You have to hand it to Curtis Joseph. Not only does he keep pucks out of the net, he keeps secrets too. "It's taboo," said Joseph, grinning like the cat that ate the canary. "You're not going to get anything."

   2001 April 25, “Joseph hints at hurt hand”, in cbcsports.ca, Canada, retrieved 09 Aug 2008

   I stood there looking like the cat that ate the canary. . . . But he knows me too well and pondered out loud what I had been up to.

   2007 February 25, Georgi Davis, “Jeans weather makes a woman do strange things”, in St Petersburg Times, retrieved 09 Aug 2008

2. idiomaticA person whose appearance and behavior suggest guilt mixed with other qualities, such as satisfaction or feigned nonchalance.

   Like the cat that swallowed the canary. Not only do you feel a little bit guilty 'cause you can't stop, but you feel pretty good, too.

   2001 February 12, “Daytona 500: Andretti on Italian food, breakfast cereal and going fast”, in CNN/Sports Illustrated, retrieved 09 Aug 2008

   1 more example

   Daley said that Tietjen, who lives in Middle Island, had the "cat who ate the canary" look when he was pulled over. The 32-year-old driver was apologetic, and never tried to dispute the ticket.

   2007 February 24, Lorena Mongelli, Eric Lenkowitz, “Idiot & Dummy: 'Car Fool' Cheater Nailed in HOV Lane”, in New York Post, retrieved 09 Aug 2008