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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In addition to the cat and mouse intrigue there’s also the relationship story. Jeryl Brunner, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 High profile shows set to launch include David Suchet-starrer The Au Pair, Jason Watkins and Robson Green’s cat and mouse drama Catch You Later and the latest season of All Creatures. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2025 Moretti's aware of Ariel's intellect and always wants to be one step ahead of her, making for an enthralling game of cat and mouse. Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025 Later that year, the first season of the legitimately great Jessica Jones delivered a bona fide serial-killer thriller that explored how the genre would play out if both cat and mouse had superhuman abilities. Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cat and mouse

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cat and mouse was in 1675

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Cite this Entry

“Cat and mouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cat%20and%20mouse. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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