cat and mouse
noun
: behavior like that of a cat with a mouse: such as
a
: the act of toying with or tormenting something before destroying it
b
: a contrived action involving constant pursuit, near captures, and repeated escapes
played a game of cat and mouse with the police
broadly
: an evasive action
Examples of cat and mouse in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For now, both the cat and mouse are released back into the field.
—
Kayti Burt, Time, 14 Jan. 2026
The film follows a relentless detective and an infamous contract killer who collide in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026
It's paced to perfection, with the final face-off between the two Terminators becoming a game of cat and mouse that echoes the ending of the original (albeit a lot hotter).
—Ian Stokes, Space.com, 26 Nov. 2025
The game of cat and mouse extends off the island.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cat and mouse
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Kayti Burt, Time, 14 Jan. 2026
The film follows a relentless detective and an infamous contract killer who collide in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026
It's paced to perfection, with the final face-off between the two Terminators becoming a game of cat and mouse that echoes the ending of the original (albeit a lot hotter).
—Ian Stokes, Space.com, 26 Nov. 2025
The game of cat and mouse extends off the island.
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for cat and mouse
Cite this Entry
“Cat and mouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cat%20and%20mouse. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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