cat and mouse

[ kat uhn mous ]

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 ( def 1 ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of cat and mouse¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Idioms and Phrases

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.

Example Sentences

This was a game of cat and mouse, high risk and high rewards from two managers wedded to their tactical approach.

From BBC

The crackdowns mark the latest phase in a long game of cat and mouse between Imran Khan’s PTI and the authorities.

From BBC

"A lot of this is kind of a cat and mouse game."

From Salon

And retailers have long played a game of cat and mouse with thieves, searching for ways to thwart them while still giving paying customers easy access to merchandise.

From Los Angeles Times

A game of cat and mouse had begun, pitting the Trump administration — and later the Biden administration — against local sanctuary advocates.

From Seattle Times