Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
which way the cat jumps

which way the cat jumps

9.9
To wait and see how a situation turns out before deciding
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : ver cómo se desarrollan las cosas
  • Let's wait and see which way the cat jumps.

Examples

  • I prefer to hold off until I see which way the cat jumps.

  • Politicians often wait to see which way the cat jumps before voicing their opinions.

  • I’ll decide whether to join the project after I see which way the cat jumps.

  • Many investors want to see which way the cat jumps before committing their money.

  • Many investors want to see which way the cat jumps before committing their money.

  • Politicians often wait to see which way the cat jumps before voicing their opinions.

  • I’ll decide whether to join the project after I see which way the cat jumps.

Synonyms

to play it by ear
vswhich way the cat jumps
11 6.2

Decide what to do as things happen rather than plan ahead

waits before acting to see what the final outcome will be
to wait until the dust settles
vswhich way the cat jumps
  • Informal
6.0

To delay action or decisions until things become clearer

waits for the final outcome rather than just clarity
to wait for the ball to drop
vswhich way the cat jumps
  • Informal
7.6

Delay acting until an important event happens

waits to see how things develop rather than for one event
which way the wind is blowing
vswhich way the cat jumps
  • Informal
8.0

To find out what most people think before you act

waits to observe how events end rather than quickly judging opinion

Antonyms

to act
∞ 1.0

Take action to deal with a problem or situation

How Decisive

to act
∞ 1.0
to decide
∞ 1.0
which way the cat jumps
  • Informal
9.9
to hesitate
318 2.5
to hold back
16 3.5

Surface Forms

which way the cat jumps main

Morphology

which + way + the + cat + jumps

The literal pieces ('which way' + 'the cat jumps') clearly point to observing a direction of movement, so a learner could infer a sense of waiting to see an outcome, but the use of a cat-jumping scenario as a decision metaphor is figurative rather than strictly compositional. This metaphorical extension is partially transparent but not fully predictable without exposure, so a B1 learner who knows the words may only sometimes arrive at the intended pragmatic meaning.

Etymology

Which way the cat jumps comes from watching a cat. People wait to see which way the cat jumps before they act, so it means 'to wait to see what happens'.