catbird seat

Questions

What does catbird seat mean?

An enviable position, often one of great advantage.

Where does catbird seat come from?

The expression, as it was in use in the 19th century in the southern United States, may originate in regard to the gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis). It was featured in the 1942 short story "The Catbird Seat" by James Thurber, and popularized by baseball commentator Red Barber, and often referred to baseball. The expression, according to James Thurber, comes from the observation of the catbird (an Australian bird) of the family Ptilonorhynchidae. Some of the male birds will assemble several hundred colored rocks or shells, arranging them in a remarkable artistic display, in order to build a "seat" atop which his mate will eventually be enthroned.

How to pronounce catbird seat

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “catbird seat”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “catbird seat”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “catbird seat” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.