play (a game of) cat and mouse (with somebody)PREVENTto pretend to allow someone to do or have what they want, and then to stop them from doing or having it （跟某人）玩猫捉老鼠的游戏，愚弄（某人） The police played an elaborate game of cat and mouse to trap him. 警方跟他玩了一场精心布局的猫捉老鼠游戏，诱他落网。
play (a game of) cat and mouse (with somebody)• They played cat and mouse with the Bay, now scrambling for the outside, now sneaking back in.• For the rest of the hunting season, the saboteurs will play a cat and mouse game with the huntsmen.
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