mouse (redirected from mouses)

Are you a man or a mouse?

something that you say in order to encourage someone to be brave when they are frightened to do something. Just tell your boss that you think she's making the wrong decision: what are you, a man or a mouse?

See also: man

be as quiet as a mouse

to be very quiet. She was as quiet as a mouse. I didn't even know she'd come in.

See also: quiet

a cat and mouse game

play cat and mouse - to try to defeat someone by tricking them into making a mistake so that you have an advantage over them. It's just the latest manoeuvre in the eternal cat and mouse game between the police and drug runners.

See also: cat, game

Mickey-Mouse (informal)

not important or not good compared with other things of the same type. We're talking about a respected organization here - not some Mickey-Mouse outfit. (always before noun)

play cat and mouse

to try to defeat someone by tricking them into making a mistake so that you have an advantage over them. The 32-year-old actress spent a large proportion of the week playing cat and mouse with the press. (often + with)

See also: cat, play

---

play (a game of) cat and mouse

1. to repeatedly try to make someone react in a way that will cause them problems. Enemy warplanes have been playing a deadly game of cat and mouse, trying to bring American fighter planes into range of their missiles.

2. to try to find someone who is hiding from you. Border agents played cat and mouse with people trying to enter the country illegally.

Etymology: based on the way a cat plays with a mouse before killing it

See also: cat, play