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 The series follows a secret operative (Carpenter) who, after a mission is compromised, is forced into a psychological game of cat and mouse with her own mind while being hunted down by the very program that created her. Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 17 June 2024 Rick and Michonne get into a game of cat and mouse with Jadis, who resumes her villain monologue. Leah Marilla Thomas, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2024 Others, such as expansive reviews of outbound investment, are less likely to succeed, as investors will constantly seek out workarounds, creating a never-ending game of cat and mouse with regulators. Margaret M. Pearson, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2022 That said, our favorite part of this presentation was when HBO released the new season trailer for House of the Dragon not long after Amazon dropped one for Lord of the Rings as the two fantasy dramas continue to play a game of cat and mouse. Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 May 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

Dictionary Entries Near cat and mouse

Cite this Entry

“Cat and mouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cat%20and%20mouse. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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