CAT-TIONARY: CAT GOT YOUR TONGUE?

"cat got your tongue?"

The phrase probably comes from a custom in the Mideast

hundreds of years ago,

when it was common to punish a thief

by cutting off their right hand,

and a liar by ripping out their tongue.

These severed body parts were given

to the king's pet cats as their daily food.

is this enough now to untie your tongue

& get you talking?