Who is such and such a cat? - briefly
The phrase "such and such a cat" refers to an unspecified or unknown individual, often used to denote someone whose identity is not relevant or is intentionally being vague. This expression can be used colloquially to avoid mentioning a specific person directly.
Who is such and such a cat? - in detail
The phrase "such and such a cat" is an idiomatic expression commonly used in English to refer to an unspecified or unnamed individual. This expression is often employed when the speaker does not wish to reveal the identity of the person they are discussing, or when the identity is irrelevant to the point being made. The term "cat" in this usage is a colloquial way to refer to a person, drawing from the slang term popularized in the mid-20th century, particularly within jazz and African American communities.
The origins of the term "cat" to mean a person can be traced back to the 1930s. It gained widespread popularity in the 1950s and 1960s, especially within the beatnik and jazz cultures. The expression "such and such a cat" evolved as a way to discuss individuals in a vague or anonymized manner. This usage can be observed in various forms of media, including literature, music, and film, where characters or narrators might refer to someone as "a certain cat" or "that cat" without specifying their name.
In contemporary usage, the phrase "such and such a cat" can be found in both casual and formal settings. For example, in a conversation, someone might say, "I ran into such and such a cat at the store today," meaning they encountered an acquaintance whose name they do not wish to disclose. Similarly, in a narrative, an author might use the phrase to create a sense of mystery or to maintain the anonymity of a character.
It is important to note that the usage of "cat" in this sense is largely informal and is more common in American English. In British English, the term is less frequently used, and alternative phrases such as "so-and-so" or "what's-his-name" are more likely to be employed for similar purposes.
The expression "such and such a cat" is versatile and can be adapted to various grammatical structures. For instance, it can be used in the subject position, as in "Such and such a cat was at the party," or in the object position, as in "I saw such and such a cat yesterday." The flexibility of the phrase allows it to be integrated into a wide range of sentences and scenarios, making it a useful tool for speakers who wish to refer to individuals without specifying their identities.
In summary, "such and such a cat" is an idiomatic expression used to refer to an unspecified or unnamed person. Its origins lie in mid-20th-century slang, particularly within jazz and beatnik cultures, and it has since become a part of colloquial American English. The phrase is versatile and can be used in various grammatical structures to maintain the anonymity of an individual in a conversation or narrative.