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

Their seemingly innocent flirtation turns into a dangerous game of cat and mouse while various people — who all think that Tupelo is Clifton-Ward’s thieving paramour — try to capture the pair. —Paul Vidich, People.com, 2 May 2025

Thrust into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, the man must outmaneuver blockades and navigate perilous threats both in and outside of the submarine. —Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2025

In games of cat and mouse, new traps have a limited shelf life. —Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025

The series follows a disgraced FBI agent (Mackie) and an American career criminal (Dornan) who play a zero-sum game of cat and mouse across Europe. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cat and mouse

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