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I looked the phrase up. Red Barber popularized it. But I am not sure where I heard it, except in a James Thurber story decades ago. Surely I’ve heard it verbally somewhere.
I have no idea what its literal meaning would be. What is a catbird or its seat? I have no idea. Any Southerners know?
I looked the phrase up. Red Barber popularized it. But I am not sure where I heard it, except in a James Thurber story decades ago. Surely I’ve heard it verbally somewhere.
I have no idea what its literal meaning would be. What is a catbird or its seat? I have no idea. Any Southerners know?
You've heard it because people have said it, and every article I've read about the phrase credits both Barber and Thurber.
As for catbirds, there are many--so named because they make a sound which mimics a cat's meow.
You've heard it because people have said it, and every article I've read about the phrase credits both Barber and Thurber.
As for catbirds, there are many--so named because they make a sound which mimics a cat's meow.
The catbird perches high up, where it can be seen and can see far out in all directions. His call is a great signal to the critters on the ground that everything is fine, or there's something out there to worry about.
Either way, the catbird gets all the attention. Not because the bird is flashy; it's because it's sitting in the catbird seat, where all the attention is paid.
A lot of these old expressions come from observing nature.
Mama foxes act crazy to lure the coyotes away from the fox's kits in the den. Coyotes never catch on, so the smart mama fox easily escapes the coyote after it falls for the trick every time.
The expression becomes Crazy like a fox. (Which we all know isn't really crazy at all.)
Either way, the catbird gets all the attention. Not because the bird is flashy; it's because it's sitting in the catbird seat, where all the attention is paid.
A lot of these old expressions come from observing nature
.)
If I may add to your explanation Banjo..
Another colloquialism with a meaning very similar to catbird seat is "sitting pretty".. The catbird seat is an enviable position, a position of likely success. I can understand how it originated, with the catbird sitting so high up.
Speaking of expressions that come from observing nature - Corn is supposed to be planted in the spring when the red oak leaves are as big as a squirrel's ear.
Another colloquialism with a meaning very similar to catbird seat is "sitting pretty".. The catbird seat is an enviable position, a position of likely success. I can understand how it originated, with the catbird sitting so high up.
Speaking of expressions that come from observing nature - Corn is supposed to be planted in the spring when the red oak leaves are as big as a squirrel's ear.
In 1865 Alice in Wonderland was published and the Chesire Cat was always sitting high in the tree.
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