like herding cats

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "like herding cats" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express how difficult it is to manage or organize a chaotic situation or group of people. For example, if your job is to manage a team of unruly employees, you might say "Trying to manage this team is like herding cats!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

I thought this grid was a beauty: lightly freckled, some wide open spaces for great long entries like ALI BABA, LIKE HERDING CATS, and DIAL TONES.

The New York Times

It's like herding cats.

The Guardian

"They're like herding cats, passengers.

The Guardian - Business

Fellner: "Making movies is like herding cats.

The Guardian - Film

Restaurant cooking for vegetarians can be like herding cats.

The New York Times

Handicapping the House right now is like herding cats.

The New York Times

The inside joke is that creating a humanist group is like "herding cats".

The New York Times

The W.T.O. has 159 members, so it's a little like herding cats.

The New York Times

He chuckled and added, "It's a little bit like herding cats".

The New Yorker

It's like herding cats," says a British sergeant helping to "mentor" the Afghan army in Kandahar.

The Economist

Darragh: It's like herding cats… Sam: But Star Wars itself is so over-the-top.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "like herding cats" when you want to vividly describe a situation where managing a group or task feels chaotic and nearly impossible due to the independent or uncooperative nature of the involved parties.

Common error

Avoid using "like herding cats" to simply describe a difficult task. The idiom is best reserved for situations where the challenge stems specifically from the uncoordinated or independent actions of multiple entities, not just inherent complexity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "like herding cats" functions as an idiomatic expression. According to Ludwig AI, it's used to vividly describe situations where managing or organizing a group or task is extremely difficult, chaotic, and almost impossible due to the uncooperative or independent nature of those involved. It provides a colorful way to express frustration and the near impossibility of maintaining control.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The idiom "like herding cats" is a vivid and commonly used expression to describe the immense difficulty of managing a group of uncooperative individuals or a chaotic situation. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its frequent use in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While widely understood, it is most appropriate for informal settings and should be replaced with more professional language in formal contexts. Remember, as described in this guide, the core of the phrase lies not just in difficulty, but in the independent nature of the entities involved. For similar expressions, consider phrases such as "difficult to manage" or "hard to control".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to control

Highlights the lack of control over the situation or people.

difficult to manage

Focuses on the managerial aspect of the difficulty.

unmanageable situation

Emphasizes the state of being beyond control or management.

challenging to organize

Highlights the difficulty in bringing structure to something.

complex to coordinate

Stresses the intricate nature of the coordination required.

like nailing jelly to a wall

Uses a different analogy to express the impossibility of the task.

difficult to bring to order

Highlights the struggle to establish order or structure.

impossible to get everyone on the same page

Emphasizes the difficulty in achieving consensus or agreement.

like trying to contain water

Employs a metaphor about uncontrollability and fluidity.

a logistical nightmare

Focuses on the organizational challenges involved.

FAQs

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

You can use "like herding cats" to describe situations where managing a group or task is extremely difficult due to a lack of cooperation or coordination. For instance, "Trying to get all the departments to agree on a budget is "like herding cats"".

What does it mean when something is described as "like herding cats"?

When something is described as "like herding cats", it means the task is nearly impossible to accomplish due to the independent and often conflicting nature of the entities involved. It suggests a chaotic and frustrating experience.

Are there other idioms similar to "like herding cats"?

Yes, similar idioms include "nailing jelly to a wall", which also conveys the idea of attempting something impossible, or "spinning plates", to describe juggling many things at once and the difficulty of keeping them all going.

Is "like herding cats" appropriate for formal writing?

While "like herding cats" is widely understood, it's generally considered informal. In formal writing, it's best to opt for more direct and professional language, such as "difficult to manage" or "challenging to coordinate", depending on the specific context.