Meaning of 猫の額 (neko no hitai) “Cat’s Forehead”

Definition

猫の額 (ねこのひたい, neko no hitai) literally means “a cat’s forehead”. Figuratively, it indicates (with a touch of humour/sarcasm) that the area of something is very narrow/small, like a cat’s forehead.

Usage

It is usually used as ‘猫の額ほどの’ meaning “as narrow as a cat’s forehead”. For some reason, it is dominantly used to describe a small garden.

Examples

猫の額ほどの庭(にわ)で野菜(やさい)を育(そだ)てている

I grow vegetables in my very small garden.

Related Words

Synonyms

(とても)狭い, (very) narrow

ウサギ小屋(ごや)のような “like a rabbit hutch” (very small)

Antonyms

広(ひろ)い “wide/large”

巨大(きょだい)な “massive/gigantic”

See also

8 Funny Japanese Idioms Related to Cat (猫, neko)

8 Funny Japanese Idioms Related to Cat (猫, neko)