herding cats

USAGE SUMMARY

"herding cats" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used as a metaphor to indicate an activity that is difficult to accomplish or direct. For example, "Trying to get all these workers to cooperate on the project is like herding cats."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

It's like herding cats.

The Guardian

In their paper, Herding cats?

The Guardian

"They're like herding cats, passengers.

The Guardian - Business

Fellner: "Making movies is like herding cats.

The Guardian - Film

The phrase "herding cats" comes to mind.

The Guardian

"He's herding cats," said Representative Tom Price, Republican of Georgia.

The New York Times

You might just be herding cats or ushering people.

The New York Times - Travel

Restaurant cooking for vegetarians can be like herding cats.

The New York Times

She questioned whether herding cats was "a core government task".

The New York Times

Mr. McCartney is like a man herding cats.

The New York Times - Books

And how much experience does he have in herding cats?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "herding cats" when you want to convey the extreme difficulty and near impossibility of managing a group of independent or uncooperative individuals. For instance, "Getting the team to agree on a single design direction was like herding cats."

Common error

Avoid using "herding cats" to describe tasks that are merely challenging but not inherently chaotic or unmanageable. Overusing it dilutes its impact. Reserve it for situations where control seems genuinely out of reach.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "herding cats" functions as an idiom, typically used as a predicate nominative or adjective complement following a linking verb (e.g., "It's like herding cats"). According to Ludwig AI, it's correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

4%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The idiom "herding cats" effectively conveys the immense difficulty of managing unruly or independent individuals. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. While commonly found in news and media, its application extends to various contexts where coordination proves challenging. Alternatives such as "managing chaos" or "corralling loose cannons" can offer nuanced expressions, but "herding cats" remains a vivid and frequently employed metaphor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trying to control the uncontrollable

Highlights the futility of attempting to manage something that is inherently resistant to control.

wrangling independent minds

Emphasizes the challenge of coordinating individuals who are strong-willed and autonomous.

corralling loose cannons

Highlights the unpredictable and potentially destructive nature of those being managed.

managing chaos

Focuses on the chaotic nature of the situation rather than the difficulty of control.

imposing order on anarchy

Emphasizes the attempt to create structure where none exists.

containing the uncontainable

Focuses on the idea of preventing something from breaking free or spreading.

organizing the unorganizable

Emphasizes the inherent lack of structure in what is being managed.

mediating conflicting agendas

Focuses on the difficulty of reconciling different goals and priorities.

handling a mob

Implies a large, unruly group that is difficult to direct.

navigating a minefield

Highlights the potential dangers and difficulties of a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "herding cats" in a sentence?

You can use "herding cats" to describe situations where trying to coordinate a group of people is extremely difficult. For example, "Trying to get all the departments to agree on a budget was like "herding cats"."

What does "herding cats" metaphorically mean?

The phrase "herding cats" is a metaphor for attempting to control or organize something that is inherently uncontrollable or disorganized. It implies a task that is frustrating, difficult, and often futile.

What can I say instead of "herding cats"?

You can use alternatives like "managing chaos", "wrangling independent minds", or "controlling the uncontrollable depending on the specific context".

Is "herding cats" an idiom?

Yes, "herding cats" is a common idiom in English. An idiom is a phrase whose meaning is different from the literal meanings of its individual words. In this case, it doesn't literally mean moving cats, but rather managing a difficult or unruly group.