Has the cat got your tongue?

Posted by Tony Bibby on June 27, 2000

In Reply to: Has the cat got your tongue? posted by michael sheridan on June 01, 2000

The expression "cat got your Tongue" comes from the English sailing ship days, and refers to the cat of nine tails, if the captain or other officer told someone something in secrecy he would 'get the cat' if he was to tell the others, naturally if the others wanted to know what had been said they would ask, tell us, or are you afraid!!! I.e. has the cat got your tongue!

The above explanation is pure tosh [Ed]. Please see: the meaning and origin of 'Cat got your tongue?'