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.

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.

Alternative form of cat-and-mouse

(idiomatic) suspenseful, involving alternating roles of attack and defence.

Alternative form of cat and mouse

(intransitive) To mutually monitor and challenge each other in an attempt to gain advantage. / (transitive) To toy with (one's victim).

simple past tense and past participle of cat and mouse

simple past tense and past participle of cat-and-mouse

present participle of cat and mouse

present participle of cat-and-mouse