Meanings
alternative look what the cat dragged in · alternative look what the cat drug in · alternative look who the cat dragged in
- idiomaticUsed as an ironic acknowledgement of someone's arrival, either jocularly or to imply that they are unwelcome or disagreeable in some way.
“Well, look what the cat drug in, Sam,” says a familiar voice, which comes, of course, from everywhere and nowhere.
2012, Cory Doctorow, Charles Stross, The Rapture of the Nerds, Tor Books, →ISBN, page 2832 more examples
Still facing the mirror, he drawled, ‘Look what the cat's dragged in. Where have you been?’ Gabriel rubbed his chin.
2009, Monica Ali, In The Kitchen, Random House, →ISBN, page 526‘Well, well, look what the cat's dragged in,’ Gracey said as he moved the thick stump of his neck from side to side and rubbed the back of it with the great towel of his hand. ‘Nice to see you grace us with your presence, Swift. […]’
2012, David Park, The Big Snow, A&C Black, →ISBNSynonyms: look what the wind blew in
Synonyms & antonyms
phraseUsed as an ironic acknowledgement of someone's arrival, either jocularly or to imply that they are unwelcome or disagreeable in some way.
Origin
From the habit of domestic cats of bringing home the remains of killed animals.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Portuguese quem é vivo sempre aparece
- quem é vivo sempre aparecelook who's here
Cite this entry
look what the cat's dragged in. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/look%20what%20the%20cat's%20dragged%20in
“look what the cat's dragged in.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/look%20what%20the%20cat's%20dragged%20in. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “look what the cat's dragged in,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/look%20what%20the%20cat's%20dragged%20in.
Source: look what the cat's dragged in on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.