猫かぶり neko kaburi

Literally, wearing a cat. The usual explanation is the obvious one — a cat looks harmless and keeps its claws folded away — and the image works so well that most speakers never question it. There is a competing account, though: some argue the 猫 here was originally a straw mat of that name, and the phrase meant covering yourself so nobody sees what is underneath.

Either origin lands in the same place. 猫かぶり belongs to first impressions: the first three dates, the first month at a job. Its natural companion is 化けの皮が剥がれる, the moment the disguise peels off — and since everyone knows that moment is coming, the whole thing is played as comedy rather than betrayal.