cat and mouse: Meaning and Definition of

cat' and mouse'

Pronunciation: [key]
  1. Also calleda children's game in which players in a circle keep a player from moving into or out of the circle and permit a second player to move into or out of the circle to escape the pursuing first player.
  2. tick-tack-toe (def. 1).
  3. to engage in a gamelike relationship in which evasion and pursuit are used: They played cat and mouse for a while before she consented to go out with him.
  4. The detective played cat and mouse with the suspect.
    1. to toy or trifle with.
    2. to use strategy on one's opponent, esp. while waiting to strike:The detective played cat and mouse with the suspect.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.