Etymology Journal ยท C
Cat's pajamas
Meaning
- A vintage expression used to describe something that is stylish, excellent, or top-notch. It is a fun way to say you think something is cool.
Whimsical, vintage
Used in a sentence
- Have you seen the new hat she bought? It is the cat's pajamas.
- That jazz band was the cat's pajamas.
- This new coffee maker is the cat's pajamas.
The backstory
This originated in the 1920s as part of a trend of animal-related slang for excellence, like the bee's knees. It implies the object is as cute or desirable as a cat wearing tiny pajamas.
Heard in
Nationwide
Vibe check