cat's paws
Others' manipulated agents
Cat's paws are the feet of a cat, but the phrase usually refers to light ripples on water caused by a gentle breeze—the surface dimpled as if touched by soft paws.
A cat's paw is also a person used by another to accomplish something risky or unpleasant, from the fable where a monkey tricks a cat into pulling chestnuts from a fire: He was just a cat's paw for the real power brokers.
- padCushioned writing surface
- clawCurved animal nail
- proxyAuthorized substitute
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- zephyrMild, gentle breeze
fur · subtlety · delicacy · ripple · agent · breeze · feline · pawprint · surface tension · dupe · softness · gentle touch · retractable · cunning · toe beans · stealth · light breeze · gust
cat's pawsmastermind
Scheme's chief planner
puppet master · manipulator · orchestrator · schemer · string-puller
cat's pawsfree agent
Unsigned professional seeking employment
principal · prime mover · co-conspirator · equal partner · sovereign