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• When the cat's away, the mice will play
  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.
• 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.

When the cat's away, the mice will play

Cultural  

1. When a person in authority is away, those under the person's rule will enjoy their freedom.

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when the cat's away, the mice will play Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

When the cat's away, the mice will play when the cat's away, the mice will play

"When the cat's away the mice will play," says Tucket.

From The Drummer Boy by J. T. (John Townsend) Trowbridge

When the cat's away the mice will play, and in these four weeks the fishermen had become very bold in violating the law.

From Tales of the Fish Patrol by George Varian

The first proverb was this: "When the cat's away, the mice will play."

From Holidays at the Grange or A Week's Delight Games and Stories for Parlor and Fireside by Emily Mayer Higgins

When the cat’s away the mice will play, and in these four weeks the fishermen had become very bold in violating the law. 

From Tales of the Fish Patrol by Jack London

"When the cat's away, the mice will play."

From Eugenie Grandet by Katharine Prescott Wormeley

Yes, yes, when the cat's away, the mice will play.

From Nature and Human Nature by Thomas Chandler Haliburton

"And so, when the cat's away the mice will play," continued Jakobina.

From One of Life's Slaves by Jessie Muir

"Ah, when the cat's away the mice will play."

From An Old-Fashioned Girl by Louisa May Alcott

But when the cat’s away the mice will play, you know; so here goes.”

From The Sun Maid A Story of Fort Dearborn by Evelyn Raymond