狐きつねと狸たぬきの化ばかし合あい

expression, noun

two sly characters outfoxing each other

Idiomatic expression describing a situation where two cunning people try to deceive each other, often with neither gaining the upper hand. The literal image is a fox and a tanuki (raccoon dog) trying to trick one another.

• あの二人ふたりの交こう渉しょうはまさに狐きつねと狸たぬきの化ばかし合あいだ。

  The negotiation between those two is exactly a case of two sly characters outfoxing each other.