Meaning & Analysis
The literal meaning is obscure and likely nonsensical, suggesting the phrase is an idiom or a corruption of an earlier saying. It evokes a bizarre, unnatural image of flipping a cat in a cooking pan, an action with no practical purpose.
Insights
Political Betrayal and Opportunism
The primary meaning is to treacherously change one's allegiance, political party, or principles for personal advantage, akin to being a 'turncoat'.
Inconsistency and Unreliability
The proverb signifies a broader lack of integrity, describing someone who is fickle, unreliable, and frequently reverses their position or statements to suit the moment.
Cunning Deception
The phrase implies a deliberate and cunning act of reversal. It suggests a skillful, almost performative, switch of loyalty intended to deceive or manipulate others.
Linguistic Corruption
The phrase is likely a linguistic corruption of 'to turn cate in the pan', where 'cate' was an archaic word for a cake or foodstuff. The nonsensical, surreal image of a cat makes the expression more vivid and memorable, highlighting how language evolves to favor striking imagery over literal sense.
Historical Context of Betrayal
Emerging in the 16th century, the proverb reflects the intense political and religious instability of Tudor and Stuart England. The 'turncoat' who changed allegiance for survival or gain was a familiar and despised figure, making this expression a potent critique of political opportunism.
Psychological Contempt
The bizarre and almost cruel imagery of turning a cat in a pan mirrors the perceived moral perversion of betraying one's principles. It suggests an act so unnatural and self-serving that it defies logical explanation, capturing social contempt for such behavior.
Rhetorical Devices
Absurdist Imagery
The proverb's power comes from its surreal and nonsensical central image, which makes the expression highly memorable and underscores the unnaturalness of the act of betrayal it describes.
Idiom
The phrase is a classic idiom, as its meaning is entirely figurative and cannot be derived from its literal components. Its meaning is purely conventional and culturally understood.
Consonance
The hard consonant sounds in 'cat' and 'turn' create a harsh, percussive effect that enhances the proverb's rhythmic quality and memorability.
Transcription
Quotations
Tourne the cat in the pan, Or set the cart before the hors, well he can.
I am as very a turncote as the wethercoke of Poles; For now I will calle my name Due Disporte . . So, so, findly I can turne the catt in the pane.
It cannot turne the cat so in the pan.
Connive yong wits (which on your humoure stand) I'l, with the proverbe, Turne the cat i'th' band.
(This is to turn the).
To change purpose, to alter ones discourse; and fall on other matter; the English say, to turn the cat in the pan.
To turn cat in pan.
*To say and un-say; to eat his words; to sing another tune.
Cat-in-pan, turn'd, of one that has chang'd Sides or Parties.
He has turn'd his Cloak on the other Shoulder. He has chang'd his Side, Party, or Interest. The English say he has turn'd Cat i'the Pan: The reason of which Expression I do not know.
Cross References
- See Sr., no. 1945.
- C420 He has turned his cloak on the other shoulder.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.