Meaning of cat that ate the canary | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A person who appears self-satisfied or smug, especially while concealing something mischievous, prohibited, or private.
   idiomatic
2. A person whose appearance and behavior suggest guilt mixed with other qualities, such as satisfaction or feigned nonchalance.
   idiomatic

Examples

“He talked freely and carried the smile of the cat that swallowed the canary.”

“You have to hand it to Curtis Joseph. Not only does he keep pucks out of the net, he keeps secrets too. "It's taboo," said Joseph, grinning like the cat that ate the canary. "You're not going to get anything."”

“I stood there looking like the cat that ate the canary. . . . But he knows me too well and pondered out loud what I had been up to.”

“Like the cat that swallowed the canary. Not only do you feel a little bit guilty 'cause you can't stop, but you feel pretty good, too.”

“Daley said that Tietjen, who lives in Middle Island, had the "cat who ate the canary" look when he was pulled over. The 32-year-old driver was apologetic, and never tried to dispute the ticket.”

CEFR level