When the cat's away, the mice will play
When a person in authority is away, those under the person's rule will enjoy their freedom.
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Words nearby When the cat's away, the mice will play
when one's ship comes in, when pigs fly, when're, when's, whensoever, When the cat's away, the mice will play, when the chips are down, when the dust has settled, When the going gets tough, the tough get going, “When the Saints Go Marching In”, when the shit hits the fan
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Idioms and Phrases with When the cat's away, the mice will play
when the cat's away, the mice will play
Without supervision, people will do as they please, especially in disregarding or breaking rules. For example, As soon as their parents left, the children invited all their friends over—when the cat's away, you know. This expression has been a proverb since about 1600 and is so well known it is often shortened, as in the example.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.