As a language expert with a deep understanding of idiomatic expressions, I can explain the phrase "cat and mouse game" and its implications.

The term "cat and mouse game" is an idiom that describes a situation where one party is constantly trying to catch or outsmart another, often in a playful or teasing manner. It originates from the natural behavior of a cat toying with a mouse before finally catching it. In human terms, this phrase is often used to describe a prolonged and complex pursuit or evasion, where the pursuer and the pursued engage in a back-and-forth struggle that can be both serious and playful.

For example, in a detective novel, the police might be playing a "cat and mouse game" with a cunning criminal, where the criminal is always one step ahead, and the police are trying to anticipate their moves to finally capture them.

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Definition of cat and mouse. : behavior like that of a cat with a mouse: such as. a : the act of toying with or tormenting something before destroying it. b : a contrived action involving constant pursuit, near captures, and repeated escapes. played a game of cat and mouse with the police ; broadly : an evasive action.read more >>