Play Cat And Mouse: Meaning in Hindi & English

What Does “Play Cat and Mouse” Mean?

“Play cat and mouse” is an idiom that means to tease or play with someone by switching between opposing actions or statements, much like a cat playing with a mouse before catching it. It is often used to describe situations in which one person is in control and the other is trying to outsmart them.

Origin of “Play Cat and Mouse”

The origin of the idiom “play cat and mouse” dates back to the 16th century, when it was used to describe a type of hunting where a cat was used to chase a mouse out of its hole, and then the hunter would catch the prey. Over time, the phrase came to be associated with any situation where a dominant figure toys with a weaker opponent.

Examples of “Play Cat and Mouse” in a Sentence:

1. He kept playing cat and mouse with the police, leading them on a wild goose chase around town.
2. The company was accused of playing a cat and mouse game with regulators, trying to hide information about their products.
3. The politician and the journalist engaged in a heated debate, each one playing cat and mouse with the other’s arguments.

How to Use “Play Cat and Mouse” in a Sentence:

You can use the idiom “play cat and mouse” in a sentence to describe a situation where one person is in control and the other is trying to outsmart them. For example:

• The detective and the criminal played a cat and mouse game for weeks, each one trying to outwit the other.
• I feel like my boss is always playing cat and mouse with me, giving me conflicting instructions and then blaming me when things go wrong.

Translating “Play Cat and Mouse” into Hindi

The idiom “play cat and mouse” does not have an equivalent in Hindi. However, the concept of toying with or teasing someone can be expressed as “छेड़खानी करना” (chedkhani karna).

मुहावरा “play cat and mouse” का हिंदी में कोई समकक्ष नहीं है। हालांकि, किसी का मजाक उड़ाने का या खिलवाड़ करने का अनुभव “छेड़खानी करना” (chedkhani karna) के रूप में व्यक्त किया जा सकता है।