[Idiom] WHILE THE CAT'S AWAY, THE MICE WILL PLAY. - What Happens When Supervision is Lacking
While the cat's away, the mice will play.
Unsupervised, people may misbehave.
'While the cat's away, the mice will play' is an idiom used to describe how people might misbeave or slack off when there is no supervision. It reflects human nature and the tendency to take advantage of the absence of authority to bend rules or relax protocols.
Example Sentences
While the boss was out, it was clear the mice would play.
While the boss was away, the employees misbehaved.
Without supervision, they knew the mice would play while the cat’s away.
Without supervision, they misbehaved while the supervisor was away.
The office turned chaotic, proving once again, while the cat's away, the mice will play.
The office turned chaotic, proving that without supervision, people misbehave.