I heard this expression on CNBC today and thought it was really clever -- never heard it before. I assumed that the 1st mouse would "take one of the team" and the 2nd would come to the sprung trap and get the bait.
I looked up the expression and saw that it is sometimes attached to "the early bird gets the worm." Am I the only one to just discover this mouse expression?
I don't think so. I'm pretty sure my 1.5 year-old granddaughter has not discovered it. (The smiley did not show up.)
I have heard that phrase before, but only recently - this year. I heard it used in direct contrast to the early bird expression, as in "The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."
I can't remember where I heard it, but it wasn't in the media.
It's the same mental territory as the guy on a camping trip who, hearing a bear prowling around just outside the tent, began lacing up his running shoes.
"That's not going to help", said his buddy. "You can't outrun a bear."
"Don't have to. I just have to outrun you!"
I've known the expression with the bear for many years, but I've never heard the one about the second mouse. It has a very nice quality about it. I will doubtless find use for it since our culture's increasing demand for immediacy provokes unwise rushes to judgment and action.