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

What follows is an extended game of cat and mouse in which both adversaries might be mice, but the mice have fangs. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026

The cat and mouse then launch campaigns to destroy each other and the bond between their owners. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 22 June 2026

Rue isn’t the only one that Alamo is playing a game of cat and mouse with. — Katie Campione, Deadline, 10 June 2026

Over eight episodes, an explosive and violent high-stakes game of cat and mouse unfolds. — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cat and mouse

• boardinghouse
• charterhouse
• clearinghouse
• coffeehouse
• customhouse
• firehouse
• meetinghouse
• motherhouse
• packinghouse
• pilothouse
• powerhouse
• slaughterhouse