Meaning & use
being cat called
Last updated
“being cat called” is a form of “catcall”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
phrasefixed phrasedisapproving
the experience of receiving a loud whistle or sexual comment from someone in public
Grammar: Used as a gerund phrase: 'Being catcalled is unpleasant.' The verb is 'catcall'.
Patterns
- be catcalled by someone
- get catcalled
- experience being catcalled
She said she was being catcalled by a group of men on the street.
Many women report being catcalled regularly when walking alone.
Being catcalled can make people feel unsafe and angry.
Word forms
| third person singular | catcalls |
|---|---|
| past tense | catcalled |
| past participle | catcalled |
| -ing form | catcalling |
Common combinations
- be catcalled by
- She was catcalled by some men as she walked past the construction site.
- get catcalled
- He got catcalled for wearing a bright pink suit.
- catcall someone
- It is not acceptable to catcall someone in the street.
Synonyms and how they differ
- harass
- Harass is a broader term for any repeated unwanted behavior; catcall is specifically about loud sexual comments or whistles.
- whistle at
- Whistle at can be neutral (e.g., to get attention), but catcall is always sexual and disapproving.
Word family
Commonly confused: being cat called or catcall?
being cat called vs catcall
The verb is 'catcall', not 'cat call'. 'Cat call' as two words is not standard.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
The correct pattern is 'be catcalled by someone'. Option 0 is correct. The other options use the wrong prepositions.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “being cat called”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.