Definition

Noun: A children's game where participants form a circle by holding hands. They raise and lower their joined hands to allow one player (the "cat") inside the circle to be pursued or to block a second player (the "rat") who is chasing the first.

Usage

This term specifically names the traditional chasing game. It is used as the title or name of the activity. * The children decided to play cat and rat during recess. * Do you know the rules for cat and rat?

Advanced Usage

The phrase can be used metaphorically to describe any scenario involving pursuit and evasion, though this is less common than the literal use for the game. * The political campaign turned into a tense game of cat and rat.

Variants and Related Words

• Cat and Mouse: A more common idiomatic phrase for any situation involving pursuit, evasion, and capture. The game "cat and rat" is a specific, physical instantiation of this concept.

Synonyms

• Chase game
• Tag (a broader category of chasing games)

Related Idioms

• Play a game of cat and mouse: To engage in a series of cunning maneuvers involving pursuit and evasion.
  • The detective and the thief played a game of cat and mouse for weeks.

Noun

1. a game for children in which the players form a circle and join hands; they raise their hands to let a player inside the circle or lower their hands to bar a second player who is chasing the first