cat and mouse

1. A phrase used to describe the suspenseful relationship between one being pursued and the pursuer. We've been hiding out here for days, and I can't handle this cat and mouse game any longer—I'm calling the police! The detective has entered into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the suspected killer. The marshals and the fugitive have been playing cat and mouse for months now, but they may finally have him cornered.

2. A phrase that describes how one plays with or teases someone before turning violent or vicious, likened to the way in which a cat toys with a mouse before killing it. If we have any hopes of getting the prisoner to crack, we need to play a cat and mouse game now, in the early stages of the interrogation. A: "How are they always one step ahead of us? It's like they're just toying with us now!" B: "That's how these cat and mouse games go, my friend." It seems the murderer took pleasure in playing cat and mouse games with his victims first.

3. A game in which children stand in a circle and raise their arms to let one player into the middle. Then, they lower their arms to keep out a second player, who is chasing the first. Let's play cat and mouse! I'll go first—everybody else, circle up! You kids today are spoiled with all these video games. Back in my day, we were happy to play cat and mouse and kick the can! We're playing cat and mouse, so don't let him into the circle!

game of cat and mouse

1. A phrase used to describe the suspenseful relationship between one being pursued and the pursuer. We've been hiding out here for days, and I can't handle this game of cat and mouse any longer—I'm calling the police! The detective has entered into a deadly game of cat and mouse with the suspected killer. The marshals and the fugitive have been playing a game of cat and mouse for months now, but they may finally have him cornered.

2. A phrase that describes how one plays with or teases someone before turning violent or vicious, likened to the way in which a cat toys with a mouse before killing it. If we have any hopes of getting the prisoner to crack, we need to play a game of cat and mouse now, in the early stages of the interrogation. A: "How are they always one step ahead of us? It's like they're just toying with us now!" B: "That's how these games of cat and mouse go, my friend." It seems the murderer took pleasure in playing a game of cat and mouse with his victims first.

3. A game in which children stand in a circle and raise their arms to let one player into the middle. Then, they lower their arms to keep out a second player, who is chasing the first. Let's play a game of cat and mouse! I'll go first—everybody else, circle up! You kids today are spoiled with all these video games. Back in my day, we were happy to play a game of cat and mouse and maybe even kick the can! We're playing a game of cat and mouse, so don't let him into the circle!

play cat and mouse

1. To engage in a suspenseful relationship in which one is being pursued and one is the pursuer. The marshals and the fugitive have been playing cat and mouse for months now, but they may finally have him cornered.

2. To play with or tease someone before turning violent or vicious, likened to the way a cat toys with a mouse before killing it. If we have any hopes of getting the prisoner to crack, we need to play cat and mouse now, in the early stages of the interrogation.

3. To play a game in which children stand in a circle and raise their arms to let one player into the middle and then lower their arms to keep out a second player, who is chasing the first. Let's play cat and mouse! I'll go first—everybody else, circle up!

play cat and mouse

Amuse oneself or trifle with, toy with, as in She loved to play cat and mouse with an admirer, acting by turns friendly, indifferent, and jealous . The analogy of a cat toying with a helpless mouse was drawn centuries earlier, but the precise term dates only from the early 1900s.

play cat and mouse

play a game of cat and mouse

COMMON In a contest or dispute, if one person or side plays cat and mouse or plays a game of cat and mouse with another, the first person or side tries to confuse or deceive the second in order to defeat them. He would play cat and mouse with other riders, sometimes waiting until the fourth lap to come from behind and win. A diplomatic game of cat and mouse is being played between the United Nations and the warring factions in the region. Note: You can also talk about a cat and mouse game or a cat and mouse chase or use other nouns in this way. Amos played a cat and mouse game with officers for several hours. They were arrested after a cat-and-mouse chase through the fields. Note: The reference here is to a cat playing with a mouse before killing it.

(play) cat and ˈmouse (with somebody)

(informal) (keep somebody) in a state of uncertainty, being sometimes kind, sometimes cruel: The police were playing cat and mouse with him; letting him feel safe in the hope that he would make a mistake and then they could arrest him. ♢ The authorities have been playing a cat-and-mouse game with the protestors.

This expression refers to the way a cat plays with a mouse before killing it.

cat and mouse, game of/to play

Toying with a helpless opponent or victim. The cat, ready to pounce, was recorded by Jonathan Swift (“She watches him as a cat would watch a mouse”). The cat-mouse analogy most often has been applied to authorities who may do as they wish with those in their power.