the cat's pajamas
The bee's knees
The cat's pajamas is a lighthearted way to describe something or someone as excellent, outstanding, or highly admirable.
The phrase emerged in 1920s American slang alongside similar nonsense expressions like "the bee's knees" and "the snake's hips," all suggesting something special or first-rate.
It sounds deliberately old-fashioned today and is often used with playful or ironic intent: She thinks she's the cat's pajamas since getting that promotion.
- niftyCleverly effective
- the bee's kneesVintage slang for superb
- bee's kneesFlapper-era term for excellence
- top-notchOf superior quality
- top drawerOf superior quality
spiffy · ducky · jake · swell · crème de la crème · real McCoy · gold standard · first-rate · hotsy-totsy · ritzy · berries · copacetic · keen · ace · stellar · out of this world · all that and a bag of chips · snazzy
the cat's pajamasthe pits
Utterly awful, slangily
trash · garbage · bottom of the barrel · worthless · mediocre
the cat's pajamassmall potatoes
Insignificant things or people
chopped liver · yesterday's news · pathetic · a dime a dozen · forgettable
the cat's pajamasrepulsive
Causing strong disgust
revolting · off-putting · unappealing · unimpressive · underwhelming