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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And now, there’s going to be that cat and mouse, just like there is with every pitcher that’s around for a while. Jaylon Thompson may 23, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2026 The result was Nemesis, an explosive cat and mouse game between a cop and robber. Derek Lawrence, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026 In her latest Netflix action effort, Theron plays a woman who sets off on a trip to Australia to soothe her grief but unwittingly crosses paths with Egerton’s unnerving hunter, who forces her into a game of cat and mouse. Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 24 Apr. 2026 In the film, Theron plays Sasha, a grieving woman seeking solace in the Australian wilderness only to become caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a serial killer (Taron Egerton). Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cat and mouse

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cat and mouse was in 1825

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cat and mouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cat%20and%20mouse. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

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