going round in circles; game of cat and mouse; pointless back-and-forth
Describes a situation where two sides keep repeating the same actions without making progress, like a never-ending cycle. Often used for arguments, negotiations, or competitive situations.
The price negotiation was a game of cat and mouse, and in the end we went back to the original price.
Security measures are a never-ending back-and-forth.
itachi-gokko; Edo-period children's hand game
Historical original meaning: a children's game from the Edo period where two players pinch each other's hands and stack them while chanting. Now rarely used in this literal sense.
Children in the Edo period played itachi-gokko.
Rare kanji form; the kanji 鼬 is not commonly used.