fat cat

See also: fatcat and fat-cat

English

Etymology

The phrase was first used in the 1920s in the United States to describe rich political donors.

These capitalists have what the organisation needs - money to finance the campaign. These men are needed in political circles as 'Fat Cats'. - F.R. Kent, 1928

By the middle of the 20th century the term was being applied more widely to any wealthy individual.

Noun

fat cat (plural fat cats)

(slang) A rich person who contributes to a political campaign.
(slang) Any affluent person who is perceived to have profited from the labour of others.
Used other than with a figurative or idiomatic meaning: see fat,‎ cat.

Translations

rich person who contributes to a political campaign

Finnish: pohatta (fi)

Spanish: pez gordo m

affluent person who is perceived to have profited from the labour of others

Kurdish:
Kurmanji: kedxwer (ku)

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