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Pussy's-paw for Dummies

noun


What does Pussy's-paw really mean?

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Alright, let's look at the word "pussy's-paw" together! Now, sometimes words can be a bit tricky to understand, but don't worry, I'm here to help you make sense of it.

So, "pussy's-paw" is actually an old phrase that is not commonly used today. It originated from a fable called Aesop's Fables, where a monkey tricks a cat into pulling hot chestnuts out of a fire. The monkey uses the cat's paw, and that's how the term "pussy's-paw" came to be.

Now, when people use the phrase "pussy's-paw" today, it usually means someone who is being used or manipulated by someone else without realizing it. Kind of like how the cat in the fable was used by the monkey without knowing what was really going on.

Let me put it in a simpler way for you. Imagine you have a toy that you really love and someone asks if they can borrow it. You say yes, but instead of giving it back, they keep it for themselves. You didn't realize that they were taking advantage of you. In this situation, you would be the "pussy's-paw" because you were used without knowing it.

So, in a nutshell, "pussy's-paw" means to be used or manipulated by someone else unknowingly. It comes from an old fable about a cat being tricked into helping a monkey. Just like the cat, being a "pussy's-paw" means being taken advantage of without understanding what's happening.

Remember, language can be a bit confusing sometimes, but with a little explanation, we can make sense of it together!

Revised and Fact checked by Linda Miller on 2023-10-28 17:43:28

Pussy's-paw In a sentece

Learn how to use Pussy's-paw inside a sentece

  • When my little sister asked me to help her pick up her toys, I refused and used her as a pussy's-paw to clean up the mess.
  • In the group project, I let my friend take all the credit while I did all the work. I felt like a pussy's-paw.
  • Tony convinced his friend to take the blame for breaking the window, making him a pussy's-paw.
  • During the game, the coach used the injured player as a pussy's-paw to tire out the opponent's strongest player.
  • Instead of asking her boss directly for a day off, Maria asked a coworker to request it for her, turning him into a pussy's-paw.

Pussy's-paw Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Pussy's-paw Hypernyms

Words that are more generic than the original word.

Pussy's-paw Member Of

A group to which the original word belongs.