Meaning of Idiom “Play Cat and Mouse”
1. To play cat and mouse with someone is to toy with someone by saying or doing different things to alternately provoke or thwart another person, usually involving deceit and manipulation.
2. Used to describe a tense situation involving pursuers and the pursued, most often in regards to criminals being sought by the police, especially when the criminals are hiding out and moving from one secret location to another while the police are looking for them.
3. Describes a situation in which advantage or control shifts back and forth between one party and another.
4. A children’s game where children stand in a circle and raise their arms to let one player into the circle and then lower their arms to keep out a second player who is trying to catch the first. Also, “cat and mouse” is sometimes used to refer to games of “hide and seek.”
The first three meanings may overlap, so that many situations involve more than one of these senses of the idiom.
Sentence Examples
“The killer played cat and mouse with his victims, often for months, leaving notes and standing outside windows, only to stop for a week or more to make them feel safe, before starting again.”
“The police knew about all the hiding places of the suspects but played cat and mouse with them, hoping they would reveal the ring-leader.”
“The escaped prisoner has been on the run, playing cat and mouse with the marshals, for several weeks now, but it’s only a matter of time until they find him.”
Examples From Movie and TV
“You still read the official statement and believe it? It’s a game… Dear man, A shadowy game. We’re playing cat and mouse, the professor and I. Cloak and dagger.” — Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
“Maybe you were playing cat-and-mouse with me. Maybe you knew all along I was the somebody else.” — Double Indemnity (1944)
“Mrs. Baldwin. Mother.” “Don’t “Mother” me. Playing cat and mouse and keeping my boy locked up. Making us miss two trains, and the wedding tomorrow.” — His Girl Friday (1940)
“You know, Captain, playing cat and mouse is not very smart.” ” Not for the mouse. Do you know you’re violating international law by boarding my ship?” “But, you invited us.” — White Squall (1996)
“It was left there deliberately.” “Then the murderer knows! He’s been on to you all the time! He’s playing cat and mouse with you.” “Two can play at that game.” — Murder Most Foul (1964)
Origin
The expression “play cat and mouse” has been used figuratively since at least the late 1800s. Reference to the children’s game are also abundant. The idiom alludes to the hunting behavior of cats, during which they will appear to take pleasure in playing with their prey, often catching and then releasing the prey, feigning disinterest, and then pouncing again, only to repeat the pattern. “Cat and mouse” has become a literary and film genre, often exploring the cat and mouse relationship between law enforcement and criminals.