Bristling in Surprise

Hi there, you have A Way with Words.

Hey, this is Ophelia Thornton. I am calling you from Johnson City, Tennessee.

Lovely country there. What’s on your mind today?

Something my great-grandmother, we called her nanny, but her name was Geneva Red Mill. She used to say cat bristle all the time whenever she was surprised by something. And I just wanted to know if y’all had any information about what that meant, because I never really heard anybody else say it but her. So I didn’t know if it was something that other people really even did say. Cat bristle.

So what kinds of situations would she pipe up with that?

So, I mean, she could be even frustrated about something. If she dropped something or spilled something, she would say cat bristle. But she’s just kind of trying to be funny. If she heard surprising news, she would say cat bristle, like somebody from the church just got engaged. She would say cat bristle. So those are the kind of situations you would say it.

That’s so charming. I love it. Because the cats, when they bristle their tail out of excitement or anger is just a strange thing. So I guess if something strange happens, it’s kind of logical to say that. Or was it more of a replacement swear word?

You know, I think in any instance that she said cat bristle, you probably could put a swear word in there. I don’t know if I ever heard her swear in my life. So I don’t even know if it really crossed her mind that it was a replacement swear word. I think she just kind of said it. And then it has she said it. Cat bristle.

I love it. I have never heard of it. And it’s in none of my reference works. And I don’t know that anybody else says it. But I think it’s fantastic. It’s kind of in the same category as two other expressions. To make somebody’s hair stand on end. Or to get your hackles up. To make your hair stand on end is about being surprised or frightened. And to get someone’s hackles up is literally to make the hair on the back of an animal stand up. Like from the neck to the tail. But figuratively in a person, it might just mean that they’re ignoring you or with another cat metaphor, rubbing you the wrong way.

You know, I’m also reminded of a phrase that I’ve heard in that part of the country, which is, scat, cat, get your tail out of the gravy.

I’ve never heard that either.

No, what so? Get your tail out of the gravy. What is that just if someone puts their hand in the cookie jar or something?

Well, I’m trying to remember, Grant. I think it’s like just an exclamation, right?

Yeah, yeah, that’s right, yeah.

Cat, cat. I mean, there are lots of different versions of that.

Yeah. But cat bristle is an expression of delight or surprise or frustration. Love it. Outstanding, Ophelia. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you all so much. Take care of yourself now.

All right. Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Bye, Ophelia.

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