Definition

Noun: 1. A game played with string: A traditional children's game in which a loop of string is wound around the fingers of both hands to create a sequence of intricate patterns or figures, which can be transferred to another player's hands.

Usage

• The word "cat's cradle" refers specifically to the game itself and the series of string figures created during play.
• It is typically used as a singular noun phrase.
• Example:

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "to play cat's cradle": The standard verb collocation for engaging in the game.
  • The sisters would often play cat's cradle together.

Variants and Related Words

• String figure (n): A more general term for any design or shape created with a loop of string on the fingers, which includes the patterns made during cat's cradle.
• Jacob's ladder (n): The name of a specific string figure pattern, often part of the cat's cradle sequence.

Synonyms

• String game: A direct, descriptive synonym.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• While "cat's cradle" itself is not typically used idiomatically, the concept of a complex, interconnected structure is sometimes metaphorically referenced.
  • The plot of the novel was a cat's cradle of lies and deception. (This is an extended, metaphorical use comparing complexity to the game's tangled string.)

Noun

1. a game played with string looped over the fingers