Playing Cat and Mouse
Meaning: A situation where someone is teasing, toying with, or deliberately prolonging a conflict or pursuit, much like how a cat plays with a mouse before catching it.
The phrase implies a back-and-forth dynamic where one party alternates between giving the other hope and then dashing it, keeping them on edge or uncertain.
Examples:
- The detective and the thief have been playing cat and mouse for weeks, each trying to outsmart the other.
- The negotiations felt like a game of cat and mouse, with each side refusing to fully reveal their position while testing the other’s limits.