Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
To put the cat among pigeons
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The idiom originated from the practice of putting a cat in a dovecote, or pigeon house, to scare away the pigeons. The cat's presence would cause the pigeons to panic and fly around in a frenzy. In the same way, when someone "puts the cat among the pigeons," they do something that causes a group of people to become upset or angry.
The most appropriate meaning of the idiom "to put the cat among the pigeons" is Option 1: To show fear.
Here are some examples of how the idiom can be used in a sentence:
- "The politician's announcement that he was running for president put the cat among the pigeons."
- "The new policy proposal put the cat among the pigeons in the corporate boardroom."
- "The teacher's decision to give a surprise test put the cat among the pigeons in the classroom."