play : Idioms & Phrases


A play upon words

  • the use of a word in such a way as to be capable of double meaning; punning.
Webster 1913

baseball play

  • noun (baseball) a play executed by a baseball team
WordNet

basketball play

  • noun a play executed by a basketball team
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Boy's play

  • childish amusements; anything trifling.
Webster 1913

card-playing

  • adjective satellite preoccupied with the pursuit of pleasure and especially games of chance
    dissipated; sporting; betting.
    • led a dissipated life
    • a betting man
    • a card-playing son of a bitch
    • a gambling fool
    • sporting gents and their ladies
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carillon playing

  • noun playing a set of bells that are (usually) hung in a tower
    carillon; bell ringing.
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Child's play

  • noun any undertaking that is easy to do
    picnic; walkover; duck soup; piece of cake; breeze; cinch; snap; pushover.
    • marketing this product will be no picnic
  • noun activity by children that is guided more by imagination than by fixed rules
    play.
    • Freud believed in the utility of play to a small child
WordNet
  • light work; a trifling contest.
Webster 1913

Cudgel play

  • a fight or sportive contest with cudgels.
Webster 1913

Double play

  • noun the act of getting two players out on one play
WordNet
  • (Baseball), a play by which two players are put out at the same time.
Webster 1913

dramatic play

  • noun a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
    drama; play.
    • he wrote several plays but only one was produced on Broadway
WordNet

draw play

  • noun (American football) the quarterback moves back as if to pass and then hands the ball to the fullback who is running toward the line of scrimmage
    draw.
WordNet

Edge play

  • a kind of swordplay in which backswords or cutlasses are used, and the edge, rather than the point, is employed.
Webster 1913

End play

  • (Mach.), movement endwise, or room for such movement.
Webster 1913

Fair play

  • equitable or impartial treatment; a fair or equal chance; justice.
Webster 1913

football play

  • noun (American football) a play by the offensive team
WordNet

force play

  • noun a putout of a base runner who is required to run; the putout is accomplished by holding the ball while touching the base to which the runner must advance before the runner reaches that base
    force out; force-out; force.
    • the shortstop got the runner at second on a force
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foul play

  • noun unfair or dishonest behavior (especially involving violence)
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in play

  • adjective satellite of a ball
    • the ball is still in play
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long-play

  • adjective satellite (used of records) playing at a slower speed and for a longer time than earlier records
    long-play.
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long-playing

  • adjective satellite (used of records) playing at a slower speed and for a longer time than earlier records
    long-play.
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match play

  • noun golf scoring by holes won
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medal play

  • noun golf scoring by total strokes taken
    medal play.
WordNet

Miracle play

  • noun a medieval play representing episodes from the life of a saint or martyr
WordNet
  • one of the old dramatic entertainments founded on legends of saints and martyrs or (see 2d Mystery, 2) on events related in the Bible.
Webster 1913

Moral play

  • an allegorical play; a morality. Obs.
Webster 1913

morality play

  • noun an allegorical play popular in the 15th and 16th centuries; characters personified virtues and vices
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mystery play

  • noun a medieval play representing episodes from the life of Christ
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out of play

  • adjective satellite (of a ball) "a ball that is out of play is dead"
WordNet

passing play

  • noun (American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate
    passing; passing game; pass.
    • the coach sent in a passing play on third and long
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Passion play

  • noun a play representing the Passion of Christ
WordNet
  • a mystery play, in which the scenes connected with the passion of our Savior are represented dramatically.
Webster 1913

period of play

  • noun (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds
    play; period of play.
    • rain stopped play in the 4th inning
WordNet

play a joke on

  • verb subject to a playful hoax or joke
    hoax; pull someone's leg.
  • verb deceive somebody
    flim-flam; play a joke on; fox; pull a fast one on; trick; play a trick on; fob.
    • We tricked the teacher into thinking that class would be cancelled next week
WordNet

play a trick on

  • verb deceive somebody
    flim-flam; play a joke on; fox; pull a fast one on; trick; play a trick on; fob.
    • We tricked the teacher into thinking that class would be cancelled next week
WordNet

Play actor

  • an actor of dramas. Prynne.
Webster 1913

play along

  • verb cooperate or pretend to cooperate
    go along.
    • He decided to play along with the burglars for the moment
  • verb perform an accompaniment to
    follow; accompany.
    • The orchestra could barely follow the frequent pitch changes of the soprano
WordNet

play around

  • verb commit adultery
    fool around.
    • he plays around a lot
  • verb work with in an amateurish manner
    dabble; smatter.
    • She dabbles in astronomy
    • He plays around with investments but he never makes any money
WordNet

play back

  • verb reproduce (a recording) on a recorder
    replay.
    • The lawyers played back the conversation to show that their client was innocent
WordNet

Play debt

  • a gambling debt. Arbuthnot.
Webster 1913

play down

  • verb understate the importance or quality of
    downplay; background.
    • he played down his royal ancestry
WordNet

play false

  • verb conceal one's true motives from especially by elaborately feigning good intentions so as to gain an end
    lead by the nose; snow; hoodwink; pull the wool over someone's eyes; bamboozle.
    • He bamboozled his professors into thinking that he knew the subject well
WordNet

play group

  • noun a small informal nursery group meeting for half-day sessions
    playschool.
WordNet

play hooky

  • verb play truant from work or school
    bunk off.
    • The boy often plays hooky
WordNet

play it by ear

  • verb decide on one's actions as one goes along, depending on the situation
    • She didn't know what to expect from her new job, so she played it by ear
WordNet

play list

  • noun a list of musical selections for performance or for broadcast by radio
    playlist.
WordNet

Play of colors

  • prismatic variation of colors.
Webster 1913

play off

  • verb set into opposition or rivalry
    oppose; pit; match.
    • let them match their best athletes against ours
    • pit a chess player against the Russian champion
    • He plays his two children off against each other
WordNet

play out

  • verb deplete
    exhaust; run down; sap; tire.
    • exhaust one's savings
    • We quickly played out our strength
  • verb perform or be performed to the end
    • How will the election drama be played out?
  • verb play to a finish
    • We have got to play this game out, even thought it is clear that we have last
  • verb become spent or exhausted
    • The champion's strength played out fast
WordNet

Play pleasure

  • idle amusement. Obs. Bacon.
Webster 1913

play possum

  • verb to pretend to be dead
WordNet

play reading

  • noun performance of a play by a group of readers
WordNet

play therapy

  • noun form of psychotherapy for children that uses play situations for diagnosis or treatment
WordNet

play tricks

  • verb deceive somebody
    flim-flam; play a joke on; fox; pull a fast one on; trick; play a trick on; fob.
    • We tricked the teacher into thinking that class would be cancelled next week
WordNet

play up

  • verb move into the foreground to make more visible or prominent
    foreground; spotlight; highlight.
    • The introduction highlighted the speaker's distinguished career in linguistics
  • verb ingratiate oneself to; often with insincere behavior
    cotton up; sidle up; cozy up; shine up; suck up.
    • She is playing up to the chairman
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play-actor

  • noun an actor who travels around the country presenting plays
    playactor; barnstormer; trouper.
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play-box

  • noun a box for a child's toys and personal things (especially at a boarding school)
    playbox.
WordNet

Played out

  • adjective satellite drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted
    exhausted; spent; dog-tired; worn out; fagged; fatigued; worn-out; washed-out.
    • the day's shopping left her exhausted
    • he went to bed dog-tired
    • was fagged and sweaty
    • the trembling of his played out limbs
    • felt completely washed-out
    • only worn-out horses and cattle
    • you look worn out
  • adjective satellite worn out
    • a played out deck of cards
WordNet
  • tired out; exhausted; at the end of one's resources. Colloq.
Webster 1913

playing area

  • noun a piece of land prepared for playing a game
    field; athletic field; playing area.
    • the home crowd cheered when Princeton took the field
WordNet

playing card

  • noun one of a pack of cards that are used to play card games
WordNet

playing field

  • noun the circumstances under which competition occurs
    • the government's objective is to insure a genuinely level playing field for American industry and commerce in Europe
  • noun a piece of land prepared for playing a game
    field; athletic field; playing area.
    • the home crowd cheered when Princeton took the field
WordNet

playing period

  • noun (in games or plays or other performances) the time during which play proceeds
    play; period of play.
    • rain stopped play in the 4th inning
WordNet

power play

  • noun an aggressive attempt to compel acquiescence by the concentration or manipulation of power
    squeeze; power play.
    • she laughed at this sexual power play and walked away
  • noun a play in which there is a concentration of players in one location on the field of play
    • they used a power play to return the kickoff
  • noun (ice hockey) a play in which one team has a numerical advantage over the other as a result of penalties
    • the team was unable to capitalize on the power play
WordNet

Puppet play

  • noun a show in which the actors are puppets
    puppet show.
WordNet
  • a puppet show.
Webster 1913

running play

  • noun (American football) a play in which a player attempts to carry the ball through or past the opposing team
    running; run; running game.
    • the defensive line braced to stop the run
    • the coach put great emphasis on running
WordNet

safety squeeze play

  • noun the runner on third base waits to start home until the batter has bunted successfully
    safety squeeze.
WordNet

satyr play

  • noun an ancient Greek burlesque with a chorus of satyrs
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shadow play

  • noun a drama executed by throwing shadows on a wall
    galanty show; shadow show.
WordNet

squeeze play

  • noun an aggressive attempt to compel acquiescence by the concentration or manipulation of power
    squeeze; power play.
    • she laughed at this sexual power play and walked away
  • noun a baseball play in which a runner on third base tries to score as the batter bunts the pitch
WordNet

stroke play

  • noun golf scoring by total strokes taken
    medal play.
WordNet

suicide squeeze play

  • noun the runner on third base starts home as the pitcher delivers the ball
    suicide squeeze.
WordNet

To bring into play, To come into play

  • to bring or come into use or exercise.
Webster 1913

To cut a play

  • (Drama), to shorten it by leaving out passages, to adapt it for the stage.
Webster 1913

To hold in play

  • to keep under control; to dally with. Macaulay.
  • to keep occupied or employed.
Webster 1913

To mount a play

  • to prepare and arrange the scenery, furniture, etc., used in the play.
Webster 1913

To play first, ∨ second, fiddle

  • to take a leading or a subordinate part. Colloq.
Webster 1913

To play at ducks and drakes

  • with property, to throw it away heedlessly or squander it foolishly and unprofitably.
Webster 1913

To play booty

  • to play dishonestly, with an intent to lose; to allow one's adversary to win at cards at first, in order to induce him to continue playing and victimize him afterwards. Obs.
Webster 1913

To play devil with

  • to molest extremely; to ruin. Low
Webster 1913

To play dummy

  • to play the exposed or dummy hand in cards. The partner of the dummy plays it.
Webster 1913

To play for love

  • to play a game, as at cards, without stakes. "A game at piquet for love." Lamb.
Webster 1913

To play into a person's hands

  • to act, or to manage matters, to his advantage or benefit.
Webster 1913

To play off

  • to affect; to feign; to practice artifice.
  • to display; to show; to put in exercise; as, to play off tricks.
Webster 1913

To play one's cards

  • to manage one's means or opportunities; to contrive.
Webster 1913

To play one's cards well

  • to make no errors; to act shrewdly.
Webster 1913

To play pitch and toss with (anything)

  • to be careless or trust to luck about it.
    "To play pitch and toss with the property of the country." G. Eliot.
Webster 1913

To play possum, To act possum

  • to feign ignorance, indifference or inattention, with the intent to deceive; to dissemble; in allusion to the habit of the opossum, which feigns death when attacked or alarmed.
Webster 1913

To play rex

  • to play the king; to domineer. Obs.
Webster 1913

To play snow one's cards

  • to expose one's plants to rivals or foes.
Webster 1913

To play the fool

  • to act the buffoon; to act a foolish part. "I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly." 1 Sam. xxvi. 21.
Webster 1913

To play the mischief

  • to cause great harm; to throw into confusion. Colloq.
Webster 1913

To play truant

  • to stray away; to loiter; especially, to stay out of school without leave.
Webster 1913

To play upon

  • . (a) To make sport of; to deceive.
    Art thou alive? Or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight. Shak.
    (b) To use in a droll manner; to give a droll expression or application to; as, to play upon words.
Webster 1913

trap play

  • noun (American football) a play in which a defensive player is allowed to cross the line of scrimmage and then blocked off as the runner goes through the place the lineman vacated
    mousetrap.
WordNet

triple play

  • noun the act of getting three players out on one play
WordNet

Wake play

  • the ceremonies and pastimes connected with a wake. See Wake, n., 3 (b), above. Obs.
Webster 1913

word play

  • noun playing on words or speech sounds
WordNet