Cat’s Pajamas: How a Silly Phrase Became High Praise
Summary: Why a cat’s sleepwear became the gold standard for cool in the Jazz Age.
In this post:
- What “cat’s pajamas” means and where it came from
- How people used it in the 1920s
- Modern equivalents and pop-culture examples
- Related slang to explore next
What does “cat’s pajamas” mean?
Like “bee’s knees,” it’s a whimsical superlative that simply means excellent or stylish—likely spread via novelty phrases in ads and stage patter.
How it was used in the 1920s
You might hear, “Your new bob is the cat’s pajamas,” praising fashion, a party, or a clever idea.
Modern equivalents
• excellent
• stylish
• so good