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Calling someone “the cat’s pajamas” means they’re especially special. They’re truly terrific. They’re, well, the cat’s pajamas. No question it’s quite a compliment. As for who coined it, well that’s open to debate. With very few exceptions, cats don’t wear pajamas. Mavens’ Word of the Day explains that doesn’t really matter, because felines have nothing to do with the phrase. “The cat’s pajamas…was a very popular expression in the 1920s, associated with the daring and unconventional jazz-age flappers.”

Mavens’ mentions that sportswriter and cartoonist Tad Dorgan may have come up with the phrase. This would make sense. Dorgan was known for making up interesting expressions that were pleasing to the ear.

For what it’s worth, the reasonably reliable Wikipedia also credits Dorgan and lists several of his other creations, including “the bee’s knees,” “for crying out loud,” “hard-boiled,” and the oft-forgotten but no less worthy “twenty-three skidoo.”