A sign that something is healthy or recovering, when in fact the thing is already on its way to ruin, collapse, or stagnation. Used particularly in reference to financial issues. (Based on the figurative notion that a dead cat will still bounce after a large fall.) Analysts are warning investors that the sudden spike in the currency's value is a dead-cat bounce, a natural and predictable rally after a heavy sell-off. I hope the company is truly rebounding and these positive sales numbers aren't just a dead-cat bounce. Be mindful of the dead-cat bounce—you don't want to get your hopes up over something that's actually already dying out.