question

[mary joe]

- What is the difference between a cat fight and fighting cats? And, what does it mean when you use the word ¨cat¨ in an expression.

[Casiopea]

In [1], fight is a noun and cat is an adjective describing what kind of fight:

[1] cat fight


In [2], fighting could be an adjective or a verb.

[2a] They are fighting cats. <adjective>
[2b] They are fighting cats. <verb>

If fighting is an adjective, it describes what kind of cats;i.e., they are cats that fight to win. If fighting is a verb, or rather part of a verb, then it tells us; i.e. They are fighting/battling cats (or lions).

Note, the phrase cat fight is an idiom. Click here: catfight: Definition and Much More from Answers.com

Does that help?

[Mad-ox]

hi,

a cat fight= a fight between cats

fighting cat= describes what kind of cat is about;

Madox

[Anglika]

"Cat" can be a rude way to refer to a woman. It implies the person is spiteful and unkind.

A Do you like Susie?
B No, she's an absolute cat.

Perhaps you can tell us which idioms you have met.

[mary joe]

Like this: They are having a cat fight.

Usually it refers to women,right? What about for men?

[Tdol]

Just a fight.