What it means
Used to say something is brilliant, the absolute best of its kind. It's a Jazz Age bit of slang that sounds delightfully daft now, so it's often dropped with a wink, but it can be proper praise too. Pull it out when you're feeling nostalgic or when amazing just doesn't cut it. Same vibe as the bee's knees.
Usage examples
"That little coffee gaff round the station is the cat's pyjamas, mate. Flat white was so good I tipped the barista my last biccie."
"Have you seen her new bike? She thinks it is the cat's pyjamas."
"That little jazz club is the cat's pyjamas, best night out in years."
Where it comes from
Pure 1920s flapper slang from America, a decade that loved sticking an animal next to a bit of clothing to mean the very best. Pyjamas were a chic new craze back then, so the cat's pyjamas became the height of cool. It runs with the same daft logic as the bee's knees and the dog's bollocks, all nonsense, all delightful.
Other ways to say it
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