Phrase guide

there's more than one way to skin a cat

proverb · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

proverb

Meaning 1

A problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: all roads lead to Rome, there's more than one way to cook an egg, there's more than one way to crack an egg, there's more than one way to peel an orange, there's more than one way to feed a cat, there's more than one way to fuck a cat

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Origin unknown. Other proverbs with the same meaning referencing the killing of animals are also attested, some as early as the 17th century; see, for example, “there are more ways to kill a dog than hanging” (1678), “there is more than one way to kill a cat” (1833), and “more ways of killing a cat than choking her with cream” (1855).

Across languages

Translations

24 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Arabic: هناك أكثر من طريقَة لسلخ القط — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Chinese Mandarin: 不要在一棵樹上吊死 /不要在一棵树上吊死 (bùyào zài yī kē shù shang diàosǐ) — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Chinese Mandarin: 不要在一根籐上吊死 /不要在一根藤上吊死 (bùyào zài yī gēn téng shang diàosǐ) — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Czech: problém má zpravidla více řešení — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Czech: všechny cesty vedou do Říma — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Dutch: alle wegen leiden naar Rome — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Finnish: konstit on monet — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Finnish: konstit on monet sanoi mummo, kun kissalla pöytää pyyhki — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • French: il y a plusieurs façons de plumer un canard — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • French: tous les chemins mènent à Rome — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • German: viele Wege führen nach Rom — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Greek: το καλό το παλικάρι ξέρει κι άλλο μονοπάτι (to kaló to palikári xérei ki állo monopáti) — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Irish: is iomaí bealach le cat a mharú seachas é a thachtadh le him — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Irish: is iomaí slí chun beithíoch a fheannadh — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Italian: tutte le strade portano a Roma — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Polish: wszystkie drogi prowadzą do Rzymu — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Portuguese: quem não tem cão caça com gato — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Scottish Gaelic: tha iomadh dòigh air cù a mharbhadh — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Spanish: cada maestrillo tiene su librillo — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Spanish: cada quien tiene su manera de matar pulgas — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Telugu: శతకోటి దరిద్రాలకు అనంతకోటి ఉపాయాలు (śatakōṭi daridrālaku anantakōṭi upāyālu) — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Welsh: mae llawer ffordd i ladd ci heblaw ei grogi — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Welsh: mae mwy nag un ffordd i gael Wil i'w wely — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal
  • Yoruba: ọ̀nà kan ò wọjà — a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal