cat that ate the canary
Self-satisfied after mischief
A person with a cat-that-ate-the-canary expression looks smugly self-satisfied, as if concealing a secret triumph or mischief.
The image is of a house cat trying to look innocent despite obvious guilt: She walked in with a cat-that-ate-the-canary grin.
Often shortened to cat that got the canary or cat that got the cream.
- grinningShowing a broad smile
- smugnessExcessive pride in oneself
- gloatingSmug triumph display
- satisfactionState of fulfilled desires
- sly as a foxCunningly deceptive by nature
lick · idiom · cat · feather · expression · complacency · sneak · mischief-maker · secrecy · secret keeper · hidden agenda · gulp · eyes · monkey business · tail · bending the rules · got away with it · sitting pretty
cat that ate the canaryinnocent as a lamb
Utterly free from wrongdoing
poker face · none the wiser · oblivious · clueless · blank expression
cat that ate the canaryhangdog
Shamefaced and defeated
remorseful · ashamed · guilt-ridden · contrite · shamefaced
cat that ate the canarypoker face
Intentionally expressionless look
straight face · blank expression · deadpan · stone-faced · expressionless