cat and mouse

noun

Updated on: 23 May 2018

Definition of cat and mouse

: 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

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Recent Examples of cat and mouse from the Web

The New York Police Department analyst and the leader of a fanatical Islamist cell played a dangerous game of cat and mouse for years.

— jessica donati, WSJ, "NYPD Analyst Hunted al Qaeda Recruiter for Years. Now They’re a Team.," 27 Apr. 2018
While spring temperatures continue to play cat and mouse with much of the country, the weather is indeed warming, and with the warmer weather comes snow melt.

— susan b. barnes, USA TODAY, "Spectacular waterfalls within the USA," 22 Apr. 2018
When this wild bunch descends upon the mansion, Taylor capably ratchets up the tension as Brea and John land in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the criminals.

— gary goldstein, latimes.com, "Paula Patton stars in the surprisingly effective thriller 'Traffik'," 20 Apr. 2018
Eve and Villanelle begin a game of cat and mouse in which the two increasingly become obsessed with one another.

— Time, "Sandra Oh on Stereotypes, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and Her First Lead Role on 'Killing Eve'," 9 Apr. 2018
Which is how a transient hurler would come to intrude upon this Manhattan lawyer’s life, telephoning tauntingly from the French Riviera in a yearslong game of cat and mouse.

— dan greene, SI.com, "Flight of the Sole Man," 8 Mar. 2018
She and Barry are in a game of cat and mouse, alternating roles depending on the episode, and that tension keeps the show moving along at a brisk — and often very stressful — clip.

— caroline framke, Vox, "Barry is not the Bill Hader comedy you might expect. It’s way more interesting.," 23 Mar. 2018
The senior duo of Cooper and Thomas combined for 30 points and played cat and mouse with the Dunbar defense in the final minutes, with stalemates to milk the clock and attacks to set up Durham and Shayne Sims with bunnies underneath the basket.

— shelby dermer, Cincinnati.com, "Woodward, Durham handle Dayton Dunbar for DII boys basketball district title," 10 Mar. 2018
Yet the game of cat and mouse that has lately occupied the Spanish and Catalan governments is hardly over.

— lisa abend / barcelona, Time, "Spain Takes Control of Catalonia, Pushing a Crisis Into Higher Gear," 21 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cat and mouse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of cat and mouse

1675

in the meaning defined above

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CAT AND MOUSE Defined for English Language Learners

cat and mouse

noun

Definition of cat and mouse for English Language Learners

: behavior that is like the way a cat chases a mouse or plays with a mouse before killing it

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