“猫戏老鼠”常见的英文表达有 "cat and mouse game" 或 "play cat and mouse with someone/something"。
"cat and mouse game"：侧重描述双方相互试探、周旋，一方看似占据主动但实际难以彻底掌控，另一方则伺机而动的局面，常用于比喻策略性对抗或心理博弈，例如：The negotiation has turned into a cat and mouse game.（谈判已经演变成了一场猫鼠游戏。）
"play cat and mouse with someone/something"：更强调主动挑逗、戏弄或操纵对方的行为，例如：The fox played cat and mouse with the rabbit before finally catching it.（狐狸在抓住兔子之前，一直和它玩猫捉老鼠的游戏。）