When a person is a spy or a snitch they're called a "rat". Where did this saying come from?

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When a person is a spy or a snitch they're called a "rat". Where did this saying come from?

Do rats have a tendency to tell on eachother, or something??

2007-03-15 06:43:40 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages

2 answers

Like you dirty rat. Rats are repulsive- nobody likes them. Also they are disease carrying varmints. This is really kind of literal in the since of people do not tend to like "wild" rats.

2007-03-15 09:06:09 · answer #1 · answered by Renee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋

ItÂ´s that rats are usually disliked by people, hence the analogy.

2007-03-15 20:08:09 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋