Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
* "Saling" means "to exchange" or "to trade."
* "Pusa" means "cat."
The term is used because cats are known for their cunning and sly behavior, which is how people who engage in "saling-pusa" are perceived. They are skillful at deceiving others to gain an advantage.
Therefore, "saling-pusa" implies a situation where:
* One party is tricked or deceived.
* The other party gains an unfair advantage.
* There is a sense of betrayal or dishonesty.
It's a common term in Filipino culture, often used to describe fraudulent activities or situations where someone gets the short end of the stick due to someone else's cunning.