Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Drilled speculatively: Used to describe a mine or oil well that is drilled in an area not known to be productive, representing a risky, exploratory venture.
   • Unauthorized, unofficial: Describing an action, such as a strike or work stoppage, taken by workers without the approval or authorization of their union leadership.
   • Irresponsible or unethical: Referring to a business scheme, venture, or financial practice that is outside the bounds of legitimate, sound, or ethical operations.

2. Noun:

   • A small or medium-sized feline: Any undomesticated cat species resembling a domestic cat but living in the wild, such as a lynx or bobcat.
   • A cruel, predatory person: (Figurative) A person who is savagely greedy, ruthless, or exploitative.
   • An exploratory oil well: A well drilled in an area not previously known to contain oil, based on geological speculation.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • The company invested in a wildcat drilling operation in the remote desert.
  • The union condemned the wildcat strike, as it violated their contract.
  • Investors were warned about the wildcat insurance scheme.

• Noun:

  • The Eurasian wildcat is the ancestor of the domestic house cat.
  • That loan shark is a real wildcat, preying on the vulnerable.
  • The geologist proposed drilling a wildcat to test the new theory.

Advanced Usage

• "To run a wildcat": To operate or manage a risky, speculative business venture.
  • He made his fortune by running wildcats in the early days of the oil boom.
• "Wildcat mentality": An attitude characterized by recklessness, independence, or a disregard for rules.
  • The startup was founded with a wildcat mentality, challenging all industry norms.

Variants and Related Words

• Wildcatter (n): A person who drills exploratory oil wells.
  • The wildcatter was known for his risky investments and occasional big successes.
• Wildcatting (n/adj): The activity or practice of drilling speculative oil wells.
  • The era of wildcatting attracted many adventurers to Texas.

Synonyms

• Adjective (speculative): Risky, exploratory, unproven.
• Adjective (unauthorized): Unofficial, unsanctioned, illicit.
• Noun (feline): Feral cat, undomesticated cat.
• Noun (person): Predator, exploiter, shark.

Related Phrases

• "Wildcat strike": A work stoppage initiated by employees without union authorization.
  • The wildcat strike brought the factory to a halt for three days.
• "Wildcat well": Synonymous with the noun definition for an exploratory oil well.
  • They hit a dry hole on the last wildcat well.

Related Idioms

• "To go wildcat": To embark on a risky, independent course of action without approval or a solid plan.
  • Frustrated with corporate delays, the engineer decided to go wildcat and build the prototype in his garage.

Adjective

1. (of a mine or oil well) drilled speculatively in an area not known to be productive
   • drilling there would be strictly a wildcat operation
   • a wildcat mine
   • wildcat drilling
   • wildcat wells
2. without official authorization
   • an unauthorized strike
   • wildcat work stoppage
3. outside the bounds of legitimate or ethical business practices
   • wildcat currency issued by irresponsible banks
   • wildcat stock speculation
   • a wildcat airline
   • wildcat life insurance schemes

Noun

1. any small or medium-sized cat resembling the domestic cat and living in the wild
2. a cruelly rapacious person
3. an exploratory oil well drilled in land not known to be an oil field