"herd cats" meaning in All languages combined

{
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      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "herd",
        "3": "cat"
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      "expansion": "herd + cat",
      "name": "compound"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "unknown"
      },
      "expansion": "unknown",
      "name": "unk"
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  ],
  "etymology_text": "Formed of herd + cat, perhaps in reference to domesticated cats’ solitary nature. Possibly from the opening scene of Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979). Shepherds are discussing sheep and the topic strays to cats: \"Can you imagine a herds of cats waiting to be sheared? Meow! Meow! Woo hoo hoo.\" Earliest usage unknown, but the idiom is attested from the 1980s.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "herds cats",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "herding cats",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "herded cats",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "herded cats",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    }
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    {
      "args": {
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      "expansion": "herd cats (third-person singular simple present herds cats, present participle herding cats, simple past and past participle herded cats)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "87 13",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [
            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
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          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "81 19",
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          "_dis": "75 25",
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      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Managing volunteers from fourteen different organizations is like herding cats.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1983, Paul Henry Mussen, Handbook of Child Psychology, volume 4, page viii",
          "text": "Finally, you present this vision and your goals to the authors; after that it’s like herding cats. Authors have their own perspectives on their topics, their own notions about what constitutes significant issues and adequate coverage",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1987, Lance Brilliantine, “Dual color copying”, in Office Administration and Automation, page 20",
          "text": "Trying to predict the future of office automation is like trying to herd cats. Things go in so many directions, you end up with a fist full of air.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2004, Kent Conrad, “Tributes to Thomas A. Daschle”, in Proceedings in the Senate (US Senate)",
          "text": "The job of leader has often been compared to herding cats. It is not easy, but Senator DASCHLE did an outstanding job.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2021 January 13, Paul Clifton, “Delivering a basis for rail changes”, in RAIL. issue 922, page 32",
          "text": "It must feel like herding cats, with 20-or-so members and with the big five franchise owning groups.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To attempt to control the uncontrollable."
      ],
      "id": "en-herd_cats-en-verb-Ty1J4yeI",
      "links": [
        [
          "attempt",
          "attempt"
        ],
        [
          "control",
          "control"
        ],
        [
          "uncontrollable",
          "uncontrollable"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic, in similes) To attempt to control the uncontrollable."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "in similes"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "99 1",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "to attempt to control the uncontrollable",
          "word": "(einen Sack voll) Flöhe hüten"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1924, Daniel Wolford La Rue, The Child’s Mind and the Common Branches, →OCLC, page 36",
          "text": "It would be hard teaching a shepherd dog to herd cats, or even to herd sheep, before he leaves off his puppy ways and shows himself ready to become a good shepherd.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see herd, cat."
      ],
      "id": "en-herd_cats-en-verb-Hf9629aX",
      "links": [
        [
          "herd",
          "herd#English"
        ],
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          "cat",
          "cat#English"
        ]
      ]
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      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/En-au-herd_cats.ogg",
      "tags": [
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  "wikipedia": [
    "Life of Brian"
  ],
  "word": "herd cats"
}

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    "English similes",
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  "etymology_text": "Formed of herd + cat, perhaps in reference to domesticated cats’ solitary nature. Possibly from the opening scene of Monty Python's Life of Brian (1979). Shepherds are discussing sheep and the topic strays to cats: \"Can you imagine a herds of cats waiting to be sheared? Meow! Meow! Woo hoo hoo.\" Earliest usage unknown, but the idiom is attested from the 1980s.",
  "forms": [
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        "singular",
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    },
    {
      "form": "herding cats",
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      "form": "herded cats",
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      "form": "herded cats",
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  ],
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  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
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        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
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          "text": "Managing volunteers from fourteen different organizations is like herding cats.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1983, Paul Henry Mussen, Handbook of Child Psychology, volume 4, page viii",
          "text": "Finally, you present this vision and your goals to the authors; after that it’s like herding cats. Authors have their own perspectives on their topics, their own notions about what constitutes significant issues and adequate coverage",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1987, Lance Brilliantine, “Dual color copying”, in Office Administration and Automation, page 20",
          "text": "Trying to predict the future of office automation is like trying to herd cats. Things go in so many directions, you end up with a fist full of air.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2004, Kent Conrad, “Tributes to Thomas A. Daschle”, in Proceedings in the Senate (US Senate)",
          "text": "The job of leader has often been compared to herding cats. It is not easy, but Senator DASCHLE did an outstanding job.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2021 January 13, Paul Clifton, “Delivering a basis for rail changes”, in RAIL. issue 922, page 32",
          "text": "It must feel like herding cats, with 20-or-so members and with the big five franchise owning groups.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To attempt to control the uncontrollable."
      ],
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          "attempt",
          "attempt"
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        [
          "control",
          "control"
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      "raw_glosses": [
        "(idiomatic, in similes) To attempt to control the uncontrollable."
      ],
      "raw_tags": [
        "in similes"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "idiomatic"
      ]
    },
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        {
          "ref": "1924, Daniel Wolford La Rue, The Child’s Mind and the Common Branches, →OCLC, page 36",
          "text": "It would be hard teaching a shepherd dog to herd cats, or even to herd sheep, before he leaves off his puppy ways and shows himself ready to become a good shepherd.",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see herd, cat."
      ],
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        [
          "herd",
          "herd#English"
        ],
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          "cat",
          "cat#English"
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      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/En-au-herd_cats.ogg",
      "tags": [
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  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "to attempt to control the uncontrollable",
      "word": "(einen Sack voll) Flöhe hüten"
    }
  ],
  "wikipedia": [
    "Life of Brian"
  ],
  "word": "herd cats"
}