catbird seat
an advantageous situation or condition: His appointment as acting dean put him in the catbird seat.
Origin of catbird seat
1Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use catbird seat in a sentence
“Putin's aim is to show that he is in the catbird seat, and there is nothing we can do about it,” this former officer said.
U.S. Spies Said No Russian Invasion of Ukraine—Putin Disagreed | Eli Lake, Christopher Dickey | March 1, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTYou might have thought that with Borders shutting down, Barnes and Noble would be sitting in the catbird seat.
Why Is Barnes and Noble Getting Out of the Bookstore Business? | Megan McArdle | February 6, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Other Idioms and Phrases with catbird seat
A situation of advantage or superiority, as in His promotion put Charles in the catbird seat. This term is thought to allude to that noisy bird's habitual high perch. It was popularized in the 1940s by sportscaster Red Barber.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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