cat and mouse

noun

: behavior like that of a cat with a mouse: such as

: the act of toying with or tormenting something before destroying it

: 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 The three years following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan have been a deadly game of cat and mouse for employees and allies of U.S. and NATO forces left behind under Taliban rule. —

Beth Bailey, Fox News, 17 Aug. 2024 There’s an absurdity to the way Cooper is able to navigate Trap’s game of cat and mouse that almost feels like Shyamalan is trying to say something about what kind of people are seen as threats to society. —

Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 3 Aug. 2024 After Cooper gathers the initial intel, Trap becomes a suspenseful game of cat and mouse. —

Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Aug. 2024 All of this creates a better game of cat and mouse as players try to keep each other off balance. —

Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 29 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for cat and mouse

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cat and mouse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of cat and mouse was in 1675

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cat and mouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cat%20and%20mouse. Accessed 13 Sep. 2024.

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