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As a verb, from 1932. Detailed answers to any questions you might have
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When logophiles—word lovers—try to explain the origin of “copycat,” it’s clear that they’re really not that…sure. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company We feel someone years ago saw this parallel behaviour too and coined the expression! Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us One is a risk taker and very curious and the other much less so.
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Discuss the workings and policies of this site Or adult cats imitating other adults as they lie around, draped over sofas and beds and floors.
Its first published use by a poet must have meant it was already in use in the vernacular. This is a slang term and was likely used in speech for a long time before being committed to the page, but the first print copy can still give us a rough idea of origin.
copycat (n.) also copy-cat , derogatory term for one who copies another or another's work, by 1884, American English, probably at least a generation older, from copy (v.) + cat (n.). There is a greater resemblance between 2 cats than any other kind of animal.To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader.
As a verb, "to slavishly imitate," from 1932. Where did this expression come from?Does anyone have any information regarding how this phrase came about? It only takes a minute to sign up.I called one of my friends "copycat" the other day, and suddenly thought about it.Why is it a "cat"? The latter watches her sister when she is applauded for new behaviours and voila - within a day or 2 the 2nd sister is behaving in a similar way. Etymonline.com tells us: copycat (n.) by 1884, Amer.Eng., probably at least a generation older, from copy + cat. The OED's earliest citation is Jewett's 1896, so I've sent them the Harrison 1887 and Jewett 1890 antedatings from the Slate article.We have 2 cats who are sisters. English Language & Usage Meta
That, it seems, is harder to track down.Alliteration plays a role here - consider "busybody".The OED's earliest citation is Jewett's 1896, so I've sent them the Harrison 1887 and Jewett 1890 antedatings from the Slate article.Not really.
!I have been thinking of this term 'copycat' for a while - it could be an expression deriving from the previous saying: 'curiosity killed the cat' - Since cats are very curious, one cat will follow another cat to see what it is doing or playing with and will no doubt copy/imitate its actions - ie; one cat plays with a small object.
The best answers are voted up and rise to the top Featured on Meta Constance Cary Harrison’s 1887 quasi-memoir Bar Harbor Days contains the first written evidence of the term copycat —that we know of, anyway.
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Although these books use the expression, it seems that this phrase has actually already been in use, the way the author wrote it without putting "" around the word I had the same thought when I asked my question about "moth hour" a while back.