to pretend to be dead, ignorant, asleep, etc, in order to deceive an opponent
See full dictionary entry for possum
play possum in American English
to pretend to be asleep, dead, ill, unaware, etc.: an opossum may become motionless when endangered
See full dictionary entry for possum
play possum
to try to make people ignore you by pretending to be dead or asleep
`Playing possum, huh?' said Joe. `Right,' said Frank. `I figured it might be interestingto hear what they had to say to each other when they thought I was unconscious.'
Examples of 'play possum' in a sentence
play possum
Right now you're guilty of evading my questions - Look, you can't play possum with us.