# Explain the whole "cougar" meme to me. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 21, 2007, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011 "2007-09-21T17:50:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/21 "2007-09-21T21:59:44Z")
[QUOTE=Napier] Imagine hearing one stalking you, maybe spotting it, and wondering - should you run? stand perfectly still? try to climb a tree? look for a big stick? [/QUOTE] I dunno… I think this still applies to human cougars. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/22 "2007-09-21T22:08:41Z")
So, when a cougar is on the hunt, what’s the verb form? Does she “coug?” ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/23 "2007-09-21T22:33:25Z")
She catamounts. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/24 "2007-09-21T22:40:40Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] She catamounts. [/QUOTE] with catamites? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2007, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/25 "2007-09-21T23:40:28Z")
Hmmm, I would have used the phrase “college widow” before I heard of this word. Groucho: “In my day, a college widow stood for something. In fact, she stood for _plenty_.” ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/26 "2007-09-22T00:03:45Z")
[QUOTE=tremorviolet] So if I’m forty and persuing a 28-year old but my hair isn’t blond (but I do have fake nails and probably dress too young), am I a cougar? 🙂 [/QUOTE] Yes, absolutely you are, and it’s shameful, you hussy. You should stick to…34 year olds who are within easy weekend driving distance. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/27 "2007-09-22T00:29:47Z")
[QUOTE=Oredigger77] I first heard the term cougar on the show “How I Met Your Mother” they did a whole episode on cougar hunting. [/QUOTE] This was the first place I ever heard it and now it seems like it’s everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/28 "2007-09-22T00:59:04Z")
I’ve never heard it before. I thought this thread would be about Kim Bauer. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/29 "2007-09-22T01:11:35Z")
This is the first time I’ve heard it to describe a predatory woman. ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/30 "2007-09-22T01:16:42Z")
It’s been around for a long time. We used to make jokes about it in high school, and that’s coming up on a decade ago. (Ouch.) ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/31 "2007-09-22T01:19:38Z")
[QUOTE=Baffle] It’s been around for a long time. We used to make jokes about it in high school, and that’s coming up on a decade ago. (Ouch.) [/QUOTE] For me, I think I heard my friend’s mom use it in a joke. That would be about 20 years ago! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/32 "2007-09-22T03:52:18Z")
I first heard it in a cell phone commercial. (Hmm, must post in TV Lust thread…) ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/33 "2007-09-22T05:07:55Z")
[QUOTE=jk1245] \(interesting aside: what’s a male cougar called?)\ [/QUOTE] A “mougar”? ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/34 "2007-09-22T07:00:37Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I thought this thread would be about Kim Bauer. [/QUOTE] 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/35 "2007-09-22T13:06:15Z")
[QUOTE=msmith537] I’m not sure if we’re being wooshed but the M in MILF usually stands for “Mom”. [/QUOTE] And the F usually stands for something else besides “Fun”. I prefer “Mature” for the M because the “Mom” part isn’t always accurate. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/36 "2007-09-22T13:42:24Z")
[QUOTE=Napier] Besides, what would one of us last them, a week maybe? [/QUOTE] Depends when the guy sobers up. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/37 "2007-09-22T14:01:17Z")
I first heard it in the latest _Ocean’s Fifty-seven_ movie. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/38 "2007-09-22T14:34:00Z")
Where were these cougars during the decade and a half between my graduation from high school, and when I met my wife? Lotta good they do me _now_. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ichbin\_Dubist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/51bf81/32.png) [@Ichbin\_Dubist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichbin_Dubist)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/39 "2007-09-22T15:28:28Z")
[QUOTE=Least Original User Name Ever] A “mougar”? [/QUOTE] The animal you’re looking for is “dog.” Although “coyote” seems appropriate. I know some hippies who wanted to name their daughter Cougar about 12 years ago; she’ll be glad they didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2007, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011/40 "2007-09-22T16:17:00Z")
[QUOTE=Swallowed My Cellphone] Older men pursuing younger women doesn’t seem to be the target of as much derision. (Totally unfair IMHO). Although that movie that had Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones kind of skeeved some people out. Like, Harrison Ford and Calista Flockhart is portrayed as the media more romatically as a “May/December romance”, whereas Demi Moore And Ashton Kutcher got all kinds of “cougar/toy-boy” comments until they got married. But depending on your SQ (suave quotient) a male cougar would either me a “mature gentleman” or a “dirty old man”. If you’re a gay man after young male hotties, they call you “chickenhawk.” **JK** if you’re 35 and hitting on 18-year-olds, if you have a lousy SQ, you’re too young to be a dirty old man, so the girls would probably just call you “creep.” [/QUOTE] You hit parts of what I wanted to say, but in a different way. The man who chases significantly younger girls is a Dirty Old Man/ Creep/ Perv. They are universally despised pariahs who only ever get away with their predilection if their back-pocket cash exceeds the young woman’s expectations. (cite: see marriage of Howard Marshall and Anna Nicole Smith) Still, people laugh at them or deride them (and their partners) behind their backs. Take a Leisure Suit Larry Creep with bad plugs, change the sex, and you have what the 6th Ave ad-scum have romanticized as ‘The Cougar’ or the ‘MILF’. Its the dirty little double standard that no one wants you to examine too closely; not while there’s money to be made off of it anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explain-the-whole-cougar-meme-to-me/420011.md?page=3)