Thai Idioms with the word mɛɛw (แมว)
Thai has many proverbs and idioms.
Let’s look at some involving cats! [mɛɛw (แมว)]
Examples:
1. mɛɛw khà-mooy (แมวขโมย)
A cat burglar; someone who is always stealing little things from other people.
2. yàa fàak bplaa-yâaŋ wái gàp mɛɛw
(อย่าฝากปลาย่างไว้กับแมว)
Don’t leave a grilled fish with a cat if you cannot trust him.
3. mɛɛw mâi yùu nǔu râa-rəəŋ (แมวไม่อยู่หนูร่าเริง)
When the cat’s away, the mice will play. It means when no authorities are present, the subordinates can do as they please.
4. yɔ́ɔm mɛɛw khǎay (ย้อมแมวขาย)
You cannot make a silk velvet purse out of a sow’s ear; “to put lipstick on a pig.”
5. dtiin mɛɛw (ตีนแมว)
The phrase dtiin mɛɛw (ตีนแมว)” is not impolite, it merely refers specifically to someone who walks around softly when breaking into a place to steal someone else’s belongings.
6. mɛɛw gâaw chii-wít (แมวเก้าชีวิต)
A cat has nine lives.
7. yɯ̂ɯn mǔu yɯ̂ɯn mɛɛw (ยื่นหมูยื่นแมว)
Literally: “Offer your pig, offer out your cat”. It means to swap with someone, a favor for a favor, give and take.