fat cat

noun, Slang.
1.
a wealthy person from whom large political campaign contributions are expected.
2.
any wealthy person, especially one who has become rich quickly through questionable dealings.
3.
an important, influential, or famous person.
4.
a person who has become lazy or self-satisfied as the result of privilege or advantage.
Origin
1925-30, Americanism
British Dictionary definitions for fat cat

fat cat

noun
1.
(slang)
  1. a very wealthy or influential person
  2. (as modifier): a fat-cat industrialist
Slang definitions & phrases for fat cat

fat cat

modifier

: the fat-cat cases, where big money is involved/ whether fat-cat contributors or New Hampshire coffee-klatschers

noun phrase

Any privileged and well-treated person, esp a wealthy benefactor; tycoon: A millionaire fat-cat who, when the revolution comes, will probably be allowed to keep at least one of his chauffeurs/ the late arrival even of such famous ''fat cats''/ had jousted with Nelson Rockefeller at a formal dinner for fat cats

verb

: ''fat-catting'' ...a term applied to higher leaders who try to pad themselves with special privileges and comforts (1928+)


Idioms and Phrases with fat cat

fat cat

A wealthy and privileged person, as in This neighborhood, with its million-dollar estates, is full of fat cats. This term originally meant “a rich contributor to a political campaign,” and while this usage persists, it now is often applied more broadly, as in the example. [ ; 1920s ]