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  What it means

  Literally “to play like a cat with a mouse,” this idiom means treating someone weaker like a toy and making their fear or uncertainty last instead of ending the matter quickly. A cat may catch a mouse, bat it around, and not kill it straight away. The phrase describes a person who enjoys power over someone else and keeps the situation going for amusement. It has a clearly cruel or manipulative meaning.

  Vocabulary

  • bawić się — to play, to amuse oneself (imperfective reflexive)
  • kot — cat
  • mysz — mouse
  • jak — like, as

  Grammar note

  The reflexive verb 'bawić się' is imperfective, capturing the ongoing, drawn-out nature of the torment. 'Jak kot z myszą' is a comparative phrase of manner. 'Z myszą' uses the instrumental case after 'z' (with), as the preposition 'z' always takes the instrumental.

  Cultural context

  This is a widely used, vivid colloquial expression with a negative connotation. It is neutral in register — suitable for informal conversation and also writing. The English equivalent is 'to play cat and mouse with someone', which carries the same meaning and imagery.

  Beginner

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