c) a wealthy person
Well done ! That’s the right answer.
If someone is said to be a fat cat, they are wealthy, privileged, powerful, possibly in charge of an organisation. The phrase may also refer to wealthy contributors to political campaign funds.
French translation
un gros poisson
How NOT to translate : *un gros chat
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Examples in the press
‘Rail workers and what they earn : who are the real fat cats ?
As government says striking rail workers are well paid, we look at industry salaries from cleaning staff to chief executives
As rail workers from the RMT union strike over pay and conditions, government ministers have said they are already particularly well paid.
The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, cited an average salary of £44,000 – a figure that includes the train drivers, who are not part of this week’s national strike. However, rail bosses account for eight of 10 of the highest paid people in the public sector, while chief executives of private rail firms take home even more. So who exactly earns what in the railway ?’
The Guardian, 23 June 22
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Escalate the fight against the fat cats
Pressure against Boris Johnson and his deadly policies is dwindling—rebuild the fightback
Politics is currently dominated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. But behind politicians’ talk of “national unity”, the Tories are pressing ahead with vicious class attacks.
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Ordinary people can’t ignore the Tory assaults. The price of food, rent and energy bills are soaring. Last Saturday the People’s Assembly organised demonstrations over the cost of living. Rosie attended the event in London and told Socialist Worker, “My energy bill has doubled. It wasn’t even that the price crept up—January to March was a big increase.
Socialist Worker, 8 March 2022
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Everyday usage
The only people who benefit from a deal like this are the fat cats at the top who cream the profits and kill the business.
The report criticised boardroom fat cats who award themselves huge pay increases.
Claramedia, 24 June 2022
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