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.
So, there are still options available for Iran, and this is a a game of cat and mouse. — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026 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. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026 Made in Korea, Disney+‘s darkly thrilling K-drama spy series, came to a simmering conclusion on Wednesday as stars Hyun Bin and Jung Woo-sung faced off for one final game of cat and mouse. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026 The Hanna-Barbera cat and mouse — formerly a throwaway bunch of cartoons, now a ‘franchise’ — are all about triflingly menial disputes taken to absurd heights, leading to surreal sight gags and baroque violence. — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cat and mouse

Word History

First Known Use

1825, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cat and mouse was in 1825

Rhymes for cat and mouse

See All Rhymes for cat and mouse

Browse Nearby Words

cat-and-dog
cat and mouse
Catania
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cat and mouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cat%20and%20mouse. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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