cat and mouse

cat and mouse (uncountable)

1. A relationship in which two parties closely monitor and challenge one another in a suspicious or self-protective manner, often because each party is attempting to gain an advantage over the other.

   The Allied and the enemy submarine played a game of cat and mouse, checking up on each other's whereabouts and strategies.

   The hackers played a cat and mouse game with the system administrators: the hackers kept trying new tricks, and the system administrators kept mounting electronic defenses.

• Often preceded by the verb play.

• see which way the cat jumps
• wait for the cat to jump

cat and mouse

1. A children's game in which one player (the "cat") attempts to break through a ring of players to catch another player (the "mouse") in the centre.