cat's whiskers

[amy cheung]

u r the cat's whiskers =-what does that actually mean

[xyzzyplugh]

It means 'you are the best'. It is similar in meaning to other similar phrases; the cat's pajamas, the dog's bollox, the cat's meow. More obscure examples are canary's tusks, cat's nuts and flea's eyebrows. The original was 'the bee's knees' which was derived as an affectation of 'the business'; You are the business.

[Jonathan R]

It's funny, most of these things either don't exist or are insignificant. I wouldn't like to be compared to a flea's eyebrows !

[paulz]

my dog would be very upset if he was told his db's don't exist! He's a Rottweiler cross GSD - do you want me to pass that on JR?

[gazzawazza]

Xyzzy, are you sure about the bees knees coming from the business???

I always took it to mean that bees carry nectar around in sacs on their legs, thereby meaning something pure, wholesome, or excellent.

I also only remember "the business" coming into usage around the early 80s whereas bees knees seems to have been around for... donkeys... Perhaps Quizmonster will clarify!