借かりてきた猫ねこ

expression, noun

someone who is suddenly quiet and meek

Idiomatic expression likening a person to a borrowed cat that is unusually timid and reserved in an unfamiliar environment. Often used when someone who is normally outgoing becomes shy or silent in a particular situation.

• 彼かれは普ふ段だんはうるさいのに、今日きょうは借かりてきた猫ねこみたいに静しずかだ。

  He's usually noisy, but today he's as quiet as a borrowed cat.

• 初はじめての会かい議ぎで、彼かの女じょは借かりてきた猫ねこのようにおとなしかった。

  At her first meeting, she was as meek as a borrowed cat.