Someone who is inferior in any form is not totally restricted in how they behave in front of a superior.
It refers to some freedom that minions take in front of their masters.
The phrase talks about the boldness that cats shows even in front of their masters and get them to stroke them.
Her boss had just entered but she still went on break. This cat looks at the king on a daily basis.
He talks to his wife in a way that a cat may look at a king.
A cat may look at a king but for you to tell your boss that he is not being fair to you seems impossible.
There is no origin for this idiom
Was this page helpful?
definition
Common phrase that has a specific meaning.