cat-and-mouse | Idiomator

Meaning: (idiomatic)suspenseful, involving alternating roles of attack and defence.2023July 5, Murtada Elfadl, “Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part Onereview: Tom Cruise runs, jumps, and delivers again”, inAV Club‎[1]:From acat-and-mousesequence at a busy airport to a long car chase through Rome to a grand finale aboard a runaway train, each action scene tops the one before it.2012February 15, Jonathan McEvoy, “Hoy and Kenny keep it friendly but barnstorming Olympic battle looms at the Velodrome”, inDaily Mail‎[2]:Does that produce a different dynamic when they meet in battle?‘It does,’ said Hoy. ‘I tell myself that it doesn’t matter who you race against, you try to expose their weaknesses. The only difference is that they know your weaknesses. It just makes it a bit more of a mind game, acat-and-mousestrategy.2003December 12, Stephen Holden, “The Statement (2003) FILM REVIEW; A Frenchman on the Run From His Vichy Past”, inNew York Times‎[3]:Acat-and-mousethriller with delusions of grandeur,The Statementarrives wrapped in an intimidating mystique of high-minded solemnity that makes its vagueness and incoherence all the more disappointing when the pieces don't add up.

Examples:

EN: Is your husband waiting behind the curtains in order to slay me? Or are there holes in the roof through which your servants may observe the game of cat-and-mouse?
ES: ¿Está su marido quizás detrás de la cortina para matarme, o ha mandado Ud. hacer agujeros en el techo para que sus criados se diviertan con el juego del gato y el ratón?
EN: I don't understand this cat-and-mouse business.
ES: No entiendo este asunto del gato y el ratón.
EN: I'm fed up with this cat-and-mouse business.
ES: Ya me cansé de este asunto del gato y el ratón.
EN: Let's drop the cat-and-mouse stuff, Miss Hill. I make a very bad mouse.
ES: No juguemos al ratón y al gato, yo hago muy mal de ratón.
EN: Oh, I was just thinkin', what a cat-and-mouse game.
ES: Estaba pensando que sería el juego del gato y el ratón.
EN: As my husband says he wasn't. Suppose you try and produce some evidence and stop playing cat-and-mouse.
ES: ¿Por qué no presenta pruebas y se deja de juegos?
EN: Cut out this cat-and-mouse game!
ES: ¡Termine con este juego del gato y el ratón!
EN: Miss Robbins, I've had enough ofthis cat-and-mouse game.
ES: Srta. Robbins, basta con este juego del gato y el ratón.
EN: In a game of cat-and-mouse eight children took part.
ES: Ocho niños tomaron parte en el juego del gato y el ratón.
EN: There can be no more cat-and-mouse.
ES: Basta de segu¡ria en secreto.
EN: The old cat-and-mouse game, is it?
ES: El viejo juego del gato y el ratón ¿Es eso?
EN: - The old cat-and-mouse game.
ES: - El viejo juego del gato y el ratón. - Exactamente
EN: What a cat-and-mouse game, Catwoman.
ES: Ese juego del gato y el ratón, Gatúbela.
EN: It was like a cat-and-mouse game. You understand that?
ES: Como el juego del gato y el ratón, ¿sabe?
EN: I have the distinct feeling this planet's playing cat-and-mouse with us, but for what reason?
ES: Estoy convencido de que este planeta juega al gato y el ratón con nosotros... pero ? con qué sentido?

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