while the cat's away, the mice will play

== English == === Alternative forms === when the cat’s away the mice play when the cat's away === Pronunciation === === Proverb === when the cat's away the mice will play In the absence of a controlling entity, subordinates will take advantage of circumstances. ==== Translations ==== === References === Gregory Y. Titelman (1996), Random House Dictionary of Popular Proverbs and Sayings, →ISBN, page 367