cat and mouse

American  

[kat uhn maus] / ˈkæt ən ˈmaʊs /

noun

1. Also called cat and rat. a children's game in which players in a circle keep a player from moving into or out of the circle and permit a second player to move into or out of the circle to escape the pursuing first player.

2. Western U.S. tick-tack-toe.

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idioms

1. play cat and mouse with,

   1. to toy or trifle with.

   2. to use strategy on one's opponent, especially while waiting to strike.

      The detective played cat and mouse with the suspect.

2. play cat and mouse, to engage in a gamelike relationship in which evasion and pursuit are used.

   They played cat and mouse for a while before she consented to go out with him.

Etymology

Origin of cat and mouse

First recorded in 1910–15

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cat and mouse

As police and protesters engage in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, social media savvy students are turning ingenuity into a form of resistance.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

The party’s attempts to plug such leaks have become a game of cat and mouse.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

“Eat Me,” directed by Caitlin Sullivan, plays cat and mouse with its audience, not wanting to give away its secrets.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026

It then turns into a game of cat and mouse.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 14, 2026

Still playing cat and mouse with the universe.

From "Grendel" by John Gardner

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