Idiom: When the Cat’s Away

The idiom "when the cat's away" typically means that when a person in authority or someone who is normally strict or watchful is not present, people tend to behave in a more relaxed or mischievous manner. It suggests that people are more likely to take advantage of a situation or act differently when there isn't someone to enforce rules or oversee their actions. It can be used to describe situations where people feel they have more freedom or less accountability when someone of authority is not present.