I'm sure we've heard the idiom, "Cat got your tongue?"
But from my past lived experiences with autism spectrum disorder, the experience it describes is real. This can be a moment where speech simply stalls. It's not because we don't know what to say, but because translating our thoughts into spoken words can sometimes be more difficult than we may realise.
In the video here, I explore how this idiom can capture this strange, frustrating freeze that can happen when our brains may get overwhelmed or overloaded with too much information.
Stories Overview Idioms can be tricky to understand, especially when you take language literally - like I often did when I was young and growing up. In this collection of winter-themed stories, I’ve explored idioms through the lens of misunderstanding and connection. Each tale features an autistic character navigating the quirks of figurative language, with […]
Some phrases don't mean exactly what they say, and the idiom "reading between the lines", is no exception. It doesn't involve looking for hidden text on a page. It's about discovering meaning that isn't directly written. Below is a short story imagined in a classroom setting showing how one student learned what this phrase really […]
Dear my niece and nephews, You may all, at various points, notice differences in the behaviours of others in places like school and not understand why. This particular blog post is a letter to you to make you aware of a medical condition which causes differences in such behaviours. The differences may be linked to […]
Yes those idioms can be hard to understand. Even people without having Autism, we get new immigrants from other countries that get confused with them. And then translating to other people can be a communication gap especially when you're stuck for words. I can understand about the brain being overwhelmed and overloaded with too much information.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. I appreciate you sharing your perspective.
You've made a really important and interesting point about how idioms can be confusing not just for autistic people, but also for those learning a new language. For me this can highlight how much of everyday communication relies on shared understanding that isn’t always obvious.
I can also relate to what you said about the feeling of being overwhelmed or stuck for words. For me, that can be where phrases like “cat got your tongue” take on a more personal meaning, as they reflect something that’s happening internally as well as externally.
One thing I see is, it is interesting how language can help to connect us and create gaps at the same time.