Nervous as a Long-Tailed Cat in a Room Full of Rocking Chairs

In Southern and Appalachian speech, "Nervous as a Long-Tailed Cat in a Room Full of Rocking Chairs" means extremely nervous, anxious, or jumpy - the way a long-tailed cat would be if surrounded by moving rockers.

#SouthernSayings #Appalachia #PeopleandRelationships #Southern

synonyms: very nervous, jumpy, on edge, jittery, high-strung

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I've heard 'nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs' and it's variations plenty, it's common.

Pronunciation

[NUR-vus az uh lawng-tay-uhld kat in uh room ful uv rah-king chairs] /ˈnɜːr.vəs æz ə ˈlɔːŋˌteɪld kæt ɪn ə ruːm fʊl əv ˈrɑː.kɪŋ tʃɛrz/

Meaning & Usage

- Extremely nervous or anxious (idiom)

Ruby:

That boy’s nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

Earl:

Yeah, he can’t keep his foot still.

variations: Nervous as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, long-tailed cat expression

★ This vivid simile is one of the South’s best-known expressions for being jittery or uneasy. Including the "long-tailed" part keeps it authentic. ★

Origin

Rooted in Southern oral tradition and appearing in newspapers and humor writing by the 1930s-1940s, especially in Tennessee, Alabama, and surrounding states. It draws on rural life imagery - cats, rocking chairs, and household scenes - to create a memorable comparison for nervousness.

Notes

The "long-tailed" version is the authentic older form; the shorter "nervous as a cat" variant came later.
Often used humorously or affectionately to describe someone’s nerves before a big event.
Recognized across the South but strongly tied to Appalachian and upland Southern speech.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

What does "Nervous as a Long-Tailed Cat in a Room Full of Rocking Chairs" mean?

It means extremely nervous or jumpy - like a cat fearing its tail might get caught under a rocker.

Is the "long-tailed" part important?

Yes. It’s the authentic, older version; it makes the image more vivid and is the form most strongly tied to Southern tradition.

When did this saying start?

It appears in Southern print sources by the 1930s-1940s and was likely in oral use even earlier.

Do people still say it today?

Yes, but mainly in nostalgic or humorous contexts; it remains one of the most recognized Southern similes.

...