Dictionary

catfight en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Australia) audio

Etymology

From cat + fight. So named because, like cats, scratching is a common defensive tactic among women, as opposed to a fistfight between men.

Meanings

1. A fight between cats.
   • The caterwauling from the catfight in the back yard was awful; I couldn't get to sleep until it was over.
2. (slang) A fight or bickering, especially between women.
   • Female conflict, seen in this kind of structure, works conveniently—it takes note of aggression in women and sets it against other women. Men are spared. The audience applauds. Everyone loves a catfight. 1980, Louise Bernikow, Among Women, New York: Harmony Books, page 207:
   • Nancy and Sheila got into a catfight when Nancy's boyfriend cheated on her with Sheila.
   • There was a time when I would get furious and fire off an angry note if someone cast me in a catfight with a woman colleague. I assumed that catfights would fade as women progressed. They seemed so retro. 2005, Maureen Dowd, Are Men Necessary?, →ISBN, page 310:

Forms

Relateds

dogfight · catty (fight, especially between women) · the handbags come out (acrimonious fight, especially between women) · handbags (acrimonious fight, especially between women) · handbags at dawn (acrimonious fight, especially between women) · meow! (acrimonious fight, especially between women)

Synonyms

scragfight · hairpulling contest

Translations (9)

de Zickenkrieg (fight between women — see also bitch fight) · cmn 打架 (fight between women — see also bitch fight) · de Zickenkampf (fight between women — see also bitch fight) · cmn 撕逼 (fight between women — see also bitch fight) · fr crêpage de chignons (fight between women — see also bitch fight) · ja キャットファイト (fight between women — see also bitch fight) · pl bójka pomiędzy kobietami (fight between women — see also bitch fight) · fi kissatappelu (fight between women — see also bitch fight) · es pelea de gatas (fight between women — see also bitch fight)