ALL meanings of play cat and mouse
cat and mouse
P p - noun play cat and mouse Also called cat and rat. a 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. 1
- noun play cat and mouse Western U.S. tick-tack-toe (def 1). 1
- idioms play cat and mouse play cat and mouse, 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. 1
- idioms play cat and mouse play cat and mouse with, to toy or trifle with. to use strategy on one's opponent, especially while waiting to strike: The detective played cat and mouse with the suspect. 1
- noun play cat and mouse to play with a person or animal in a cruel or teasing way, esp before a final act of cruelty or unkindness 0