What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
catspaw
Example
He felt like a catspaw, being used by his boss to do all the difficult tasks. [catspaw: noun]
Example
She realized she had been made a catspaw in her friend's scheme to get revenge. [catspaw: adjective]
pawn
Example
He was just a pawn in their game, used to further their own interests. [pawn: noun]
Example
She felt like she was being pawned off to do all the undesirable tasks at work. [pawned: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Pawn is more commonly used than catspaw in everyday language. Pawn is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while catspaw is less common and has a more specific literary usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between catspaw and pawn?
While catspaw is typically associated with a more literary and less formal tone, pawn is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
