Puzzle #326 · April 23, 2026
alley cat
Featured
Every day one two-word expression or compound word used in American English.
An alley cat is a stray or feral cat that lives in urban alleys, surviving on scraps and its own wits. Unlike a pampered house cat, an alley cat is tough, independent, and street-smart.
The term is often used figuratively to describe a person—usually a man—who prowls around at night, is sexually promiscuous, or lives by no one's rules. Calling someone an alley cat implies they're scrappy and unrefined but also resilient. Tom from Tom and Jerry is essentially an alley cat. The phrase captures a specific American urban image: dented trash cans, chain-link fences, and a cat that answers to nobody.
The term is often used figuratively to describe a person—usually a man—who prowls around at night, is sexually promiscuous, or lives by no one's rules. Calling someone an alley cat implies they're scrappy and unrefined but also resilient. Tom from Tom and Jerry is essentially an alley cat. The phrase captures a specific American urban image: dented trash cans, chain-link fences, and a cat that answers to nobody.
Puzzle Appearances
The expression alley cat has appeared in 1 puzzle:
- Puzzle #326 on April 23, 2026
Rate of Appearance in English Language Print
Google's Ngram project shows how often a pair of words has appeared in print every year since the 1800's.
Data from Google Books Ngram Viewer. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.
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