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Definition 2024


play_cat_and_mouse

cat and mouse

See also: cat-and-mouse

English

Noun

cat and mouse (uncountable)

  1. (idiomatic) A relationship in which two parties closely monitor and challenge one another in a suspicious or self-protective manner, often because each party is attempting to gain an advantage over the other.
    The Allied and the enemy submarine played a game of cat and mouse, checking up on each other's whereabouts and strategies.
    The hackers played a cat and mouse game with the system administrators: the hackers kept trying new tricks, and the system administrators kept mounting electronic defenses.

Usage notes

  • Often preceded by the verb play.

Translations

See also

Proper noun

cat and mouse

  1. A children's game in which one player (the "cat") attempts to break through a ring of players to catch another player (the "mouse") in the centre.