dead-cat bounce

American  

[ded-kat] / ˈdɛdˌkæt /

noun

1. Slang. a temporary recovery in stock prices after a steep decline, often resulting from the purchase of securities that have been sold short.

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dead-cat bounce British  

noun

1. informal stock exchange a temporary recovery in prices following a substantial fall as a result of speculators buying stocks they have already sold rather than as a result of a genuine reversal of the downward trend

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Example Sentences

That said, several recent spinning top candles suggest selling pressure may be abating, raising the possibility of a near term dead-cat bounce toward the very round $20 level.

From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025

So you may be tempted to respond to one of the countless crypto sales pitches that land in your inbox and your browser, hoping that it’s a real rally and not a dead-cat bounce.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2023

"Futures have stabilised, so we might see a dead-cat bounce tonight."

From Reuters • Sep. 14, 2022

And that could give him a dead-cat bounce going into Super Tuesday.

From Fox News • Feb. 20, 2020

England had used up all their nine lives and there was no hint of a dead-cat bounce.

From The Guardian • Mar. 17, 2011