Definition of play in English:

play

verb pleɪpleɪ

1no object Engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.
the children were playing by a pool
her friends were playing with their dolls
Example sentencesExamples
- Let her use up her energy by playing outside every day and enjoying other lively activities.
- He has above average reading skills, he's a happy child and plays with his friends in the evenings.
- If it was warm we played outside on the grass, which was so different to our cobbled streets at home.
- He needs a stick to walk and finds playing with his son Alex, aged four, difficult.
- After lunch the kids were sent out to play, the women-folk took the dishes off to the kitchen and the men flopped in front of the TV.
- Officials are advising the public to prevent their children or dogs from playing on or near the edges of the canal.
- Mr Byrne came out of his house and took the football to stop the boys playing.
- They fell into silence, watching their children play together.
- The boys played together on the nearby hills and fished and swam in the local loch.
- I want to lie on the couch reading the paper on a Sunday morning with my children playing around me and my husband's hand in mine.
- Last week Cromane Beach was a hive of activity with children playing, swimming and enjoying picnics.
- He said the two were playing when the accused boy picked up the stone and hit his friend in the stomach.
- Do you know who your children are playing with or where they are playing?
- She sees other children playing happily, mothers lavishing care on children, but no one plays with her.
- Children can feed, touch and play with the animals during free public tours led by park rangers.
- In the evenings, she plays outside with her friends.
- The drama happened when the boys, one celebrating his birthday, were playing at an isolated spot by the river near Pottery Lane.
- We didn't see that much of them, even from the beginning, though the children played together a lot.
- Ms Baulland was sitting on a bench near the grass area where the boys were playing.
- He says this causes a range of problems, such as discouraging residents from walking to shops or children playing in the street.
Synonyms
amuse oneself, entertain oneself, enjoy oneself, have fun, have a good time, relax, rest, be at leisure, occupy oneself, divert oneself, play games, frolic, frisk, gambol, romp, cavort, caper
informal mess about/around, lark (about/around)
dated sport
archaic or humorous disport oneself
1. 1.1with object Engage in (a game or activity) for enjoyment.
  I want to play Snakes and Ladders
  Example sentencesExamples
  Those were the days of mini skirts and she would always seat herself across from me while we played cards.
  Armed with copies of the morning newspapers and flasks of coffee and dressed in their civvies, they chatted, or played cards to pass the time.
  Out on the town we played Space Invaders or PacMan down at our local video parlour.
  It was unlikely I was going to find Adie playing Space Invaders at such an unearthly hour, but it was worth a try.
  I've been playing Mario world all day, and am going to have another shot at it today.
  When you play Monopoly with your family, there are rules that you enforce and rules that you probably don't.
  They also played board games like checkers, chess, and dominoes.
  She said: ‘I have been playing Scrabble for 14 years and I love the variety and challenge of it.’
  The poor creatures aren't even allowed to play conkers at school any more.
  After dinner that night we played cards for a while.
  Too much emphasis is placed on solitary activities such as playing video games or watching television.
  The other girls would tiptoe down the hall and peek in on them, watching as they played cards and draughts.
  As such, the games were quite fun to play, despite their rather basic gameplay.
  He sat down next to me as though he'd never been away, and we played cards and had a few beers - a lot of beers, to be honest.
  Remember when you were a kid playing poker on your kitchen table for pennies?
  Synonyms
  take part in, participate in, engage in, be involved in, join in, compete in, do
2. 1.2 Amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretence.
  the boys were playing at soldiers
  Example sentencesExamples
  As a child, she had played at being a gun-toting cowgirl.
  In summer we played shop in back yards or gardens, or hopscotch on the pavements.
  My children don't play with guns, but at lunchtime some were playing at shooting each other.
  As a boy, I used to play cowboys and Indians all the time.
  It is like little boys and girls playing doctors and nurses.
  I waiting impatiently for the bell to ring so I could run out to meet my friends at the playground and play cops and robbers.
  It was all a game, like playing at shops; but unknowingly, I was learning the value of money.
3. 1.3play at Engage in without proper seriousness or understanding.
  it would be wrong to assume that he is simply playing at right-wing politics
  Example sentencesExamples
  Lemar doesn't actually seem to know they're just playing at being in love with each other.
  But they were playing at being villains, like in the movies.
  I mean, they were just playing at it before, but now they're completely serious.
  Their conformity to the tenets of a philosophy that was supposed to be about non-conformity, suggests that, deep down, they were were playing at it.
  So that she could play at being a countrywoman at Versailles, Louis XV provided her with a hermitage comprising a pavilion, a menagerie, a pasture, dairy and kitchen garden.
  Synonyms
  pretend to be, give the appearance of, assume/affect the role of, pass oneself off as, masquerade as, profess to be, pose as, impersonate, make out, fake, feign, simulate, affect, go through the motions of
  North American informal make like
4. 1.4play with Treat inconsiderately for one's own amusement.
  she likes to play with people's emotions
  Example sentencesExamples
  No-one would exploit real people and play with their emotions and date them just for a piece of art.
  And I don't really think Jen is playing with Josh's feelings, I think she's just as confused as she sounds.
  She should have known that Eddie was just playing with her heart like everyone else he flirted with.
  Do you think I've just been playing with your emotions this last fortnight?
  Synonyms
  take advantage of, impose on, exploit, make use of, use, abuse, misuse, manipulate, take liberties with, trifle with, play with
5. 1.5play with Fiddle or tamper with.
  has somebody been playing with these taps?
  Example sentencesExamples
  Julie walked over and sat down next to her, playing with the cuffs of her sweatshirt.
  His eyes wander evasively, he plays with his cigar and glances round a supposed movie studio that is nothing more than a shoddy mock-up.
  He peeled himself away from the shadows and walked over to us, idly playing with his sword.
  Sarah plays with her food with her fork, picking out the chocolate chips and making a pile of them at the side of her plate.
  Her salad was whisked away and she moved onto playing with the noodles in her pasta.
  For the next 15 minutes Vanessa picked at her nails as Isabel played with her hair.
  Elizabeth played with one of the flowers in her basket as they walked in silence.
  He plays with his hands as we sit down at the Toronto International Film Festival to discuss his latest project.
  Cable tidies will help prevent children from tripping over cables and playing with them.
  She had stopped eating and was just playing with her pasta, pushing it around the plate with her fork.
  Synonyms
  handle, hold, pick up, move
6. 1.6be playing atwith negative or in questions Used to convey one's irritation at someone's actions or one's failure to understand their motives.
  what on earth do you think you're playing at?
  Example sentencesExamples
  She poked at it with the bread knife and asked, ‘What did you think you were playing at, bringing that filth into my kitchen?’
  It's hard to imagine just what the BBC is playing at here.
  I had a talk to Phil and asked him just what precisely he thought he was playing at?
  Then a bus garage came into view, and we realised that the bus was going there, so we went downstairs and asked the driver what he was playing at.
  Then she got angry with the men, asking what they thought they were playing at and all that.
  What does the US Administration think it is playing at?
  When five executives left Royal Bank Development Capital last summer, seasoned observers wondered what they were playing at.
  This time Spain at least knew what they were playing at and it is true that the side is very, very young and packed with potential.
  It certainly does make we wonder what the BBC thinks it is playing at!
  Interrupting a sentimental ditty, he asked them what they thought they were playing at.
2with object Take part in (a sport)
I play squash and badminton
Example sentencesExamples
- There's a lot of people that want to play sport but do not want to get into an aggressive sport.
- I love the game and played club cricket poorly until age and sloth took over.
- Ginny played beach volleyball with the local high school students and learned how to surf.
- The majority of Australian umpires have played cricket at a relatively low level or not at all.
- If you can swim you can go swimming, canoeing, diving, play water polo or do aqua fitness sports such as aquarobics.
- I used to play netball when I was a teenager, but was never very good at it.
- Another new initiative was launched this week to get more children playing sport.
- Christopher also plays ice hockey for Hull, and he is a defenceman in both sports.
- He also played hockey with distinction and represented Sri Lanka in this sport.
- I loved playing international cricket, the tours, the thrill of it.
- If Darryl Berry played any other sport but golf, he would probably earn a living from it.
- As a young man he loved sport, playing baseball, football and hockey.
- The Manchester United winger said: ‘I dislocated my jaw in the summer and I have not been allowed me to play any contact sport up until now.’
- We just had to prove we played basketball better than the rest of the world.
- He was active in sport in his youth and played both hockey and badminton.
- She is a fine athlete and has played volleyball and basketball for her school.
- I'm a 25-year-old single bloke who plays international cricket and tours the world.
- He had previously played football with Sutton United and liked to watch snooker as well.
- He enjoyed many sports, and played table tennis for Manchester and tennis for Manchester University.
- Playing football is all I want to do and playing football in England is perfect for me.
Synonyms
take part in, participate in, engage in, be involved in, join in, compete in, do
1. 2.1 Participate in (a sporting match or contest)
  the squad will have played 14 games in six weeks
  Example sentencesExamples
  Kanoute looked as if he hadn't played a football match all season.
  In September to mid November, the training program will reach its peak with the bowlers expected to play up to 75 games.
  I was really hoping for a win but we played well and we are going in the right direction.
  We would rather play as many games as possible against top notch teams.
  In the end the match was played amid a torrential downpour, plus thunder and lightning.
  So, in an eventful year, he played nine tournaments, won six of them and came runner-up in two.
  The competition was played over three days on two of the best golf courses in Cyprus.
  When United last played a semi-final in Manchester in 1998 there were two nights of trouble in the city.
  Omagh were forced to play three championship matches in eight days in October.
  Yet it was difficult not to feel sorry for Latvia, playing their first match in a major tournament.
  The surgery invigorated him so much that in his first year of retirement he played up to three rounds of golf per week.
  One feature common to all great teams is the ability to win when playing badly.
  However, despite playing rather poorly, they dug in and achieved an unlikely victory.
  Cork and Galway have played nine championship games between them.
  Before the new season Rovers will play up to eight friendlies, including games against Premier League teams Hearts and St Mirren.
  From start to finish, the 40-over contest was played under leaden skies and falling rain.
  The match was played in a very sporting spirit and both teams are to be complimented for this.
  In Barcelona the players will be playing at least five games
  The country's hockey team is currently playing a series of matches in Spain.
  The game will be played under floodlights, kicking off at 3pm.
  Chelsea's Claude Makelele has hinted he may have played his last match for France.
  He plays to win; that's why he is the great golfer he is.
  He has height and pace and is rated highly by the England management, but has not played a championship match since June.
  Synonyms
  take part in, participate in, engage in, be involved in, join in, compete in, do
2. 2.2 Compete against (another player or team) in a sporting match.
  the team will play France on Wednesday
  Example sentencesExamples
  We traveled to different bowling centers, played different teams, and it was a lot of fun.
  At times you have to chop and change, particularly when you are playing good teams.
  Apparently the International Rugby Board think it's a good idea to have France play Ireland in Paris on Feb 14th.
  Horgan, Johns and Ward drop to the bench and Murphy has been relegated to the A team which plays South Africa in Limerick tonight.
  This division of parental loyalties has made it such that in sporting contests when England plays Germany, he is unsure of whom to barrack for.
  He is the only new cap in the team which plays Bangladesh in the opening Test of a two-Test series at Buffalo Park tomorrow.
  He plays a qualifier in the first round but must then get past two-time semi-finalist Todd Martin.
  We organised a staff volleyball team to play the senior team last week and we beat them!
  It is very rare that the defending champions play the team they wrested the trophy from in a World Cup finals.
  So Keighley were playing a team made up of a mixture of second and third players.
  In the Test matches, we are playing the second-ranked team in the world so that's very difficult in itself.
  Team USA plays China today, and Mendoza can hardly believe she is part of this.
  We need to be able to play these big teams and stay composed and hold onto the ball.
  My team plays his about 3 times a year, and every game is a barn burner and we take turns winning.
  We may just get a bit tense, and that comes down to inexperience, playing the best team in the world.
  In this instance, the fact that they will be playing a team they know very little about could work to their disadvantage.
  The only problem is that we are playing a top side away from home and that makes it even more difficult to get a result.
  It is never easy playing a team that is fighting relegation and has had two bad results on the spin.
  We had a loss to Italy and we came right back and played the home team Germany.
  The tournament is played on a round robin basis, with each team playing every other team.
  Synonyms
  compete against, contend against, oppose, take on, challenge, vie with, rival
3. 2.3no object Be part of a team, especially in a specified position, in a sporting contest.
  he played in goal
  Example sentencesExamples
  It obviously did the trick, because I became a regular in the first team and went on to play for England.
  Juan Sebastian Veron is not the first member of his family to play for an English league team.
  Would he rather be playing for a more fashionable club, one at which it is easier to gain international selection?
  Now, because they have seen how I play for the national team, they have a new respect for British football.
  He now has it written into his club contract that he plays at No 10, and since he has enjoyed that continuity he has played very well indeed.
  He plays on the wing, but it was at fullback where he found his twinkling feet.
  More than anything, and certainly more than money, he wanted to play for England.
  The ultimate goal is to play for Scotland, but there are lots of things before that.
  It is important to have players in the England team who play regularly together at club level.
  He is 30 next month and might not have many more opportunities to play for England.
  He joined the national team and plays on behalf of his adopted country.
  Chopra may have been a revelation to many but not to those who have watched him play for his club or state.
  The boy has been playing for the Under- 18s this season, with just a couple of reserve starts.
  Edilson played up front in place of the suspended Ronaldinho.
  He plays at right-back or right wing-back, but he can also be played upfront.
  Peter Crouch comes on for Owen - if he gets booked, England will only have Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott to play up front in their quarter-final against Germany.
  Both are Manchester United supporters who dream of playing at Old Trafford one day.
  He also played in goal on the college team that won the Munster junior championship in 1994.
  Not only that, but he was asked to play in midfield rather than his usual central defensive position.
  He was a lovely kid and he's gone on to play for Northern Ireland and Wimbledon.
4. 2.4 Strike (a ball) or execute (a stroke) in a game.
  was he in an offside position when his teammate played the ball?
  Example sentencesExamples
  Every time Patrick got anywhere near the opposition box he would freeze and not know where to play the ball.
  Deep inside stoppage time, substitute Matt Woolf played the ball over Bremner, picking out Kempster on the left.
  He is more in tune with what the coaches want, and he's playing the ball much better.
  Emre plays a cross-field ball from left to right.
  Ultimately, it will all boil down to how well and how frequently you play the ball with the middle of the bat.
  After tea Peterson and Kreusch batted carefully, taking the singles and playing each ball on its merit.
  However at 37 in the 11th over, Ramesh played an adventurous stroke and was bowled for 20.
  Brian Dunne played a good ball up the right wing to Gino O'Boyle and he crossed into the box where John Conlon got between two defenders to head home.
  They got stuck into us, they played the ball forward all the time.
  He missed a challenge and the ball was played through to the unmarked Karl Smith.
  Their right winger got past two of our defenders and played the ball into out box.
  Ian Harte played the ball down the left to Alan Smith.
  Trezeguet is caught marginally offside as Henry plays the ball through to him.
  They can play the ball up to the strikers, and not take too much risk going forward.
  Steven Gerrard plays a long ball from left to right, which Luis Garcia fails to control properly and immediately gives away.
  Hargreaves plays the ball into Pizarro on the edge of the Celtic box.
  James Keddy played the ball down the left wing for Robbie Doyle.
  He went back to the tee to play a provisional ball but then he found his original ball and he played that.
  The one consistent complaint about his batting is that he tries to play far too many shots.
  Our batsmen played too many shots square of the wicket off the new ball.
5. 2.5no object, with adverbial (of a cricket ground) be in such condition as to have a specified effect on play.
  Example sentencesExamples
  The wicket wasn't playing that easily, but he knew which shots worked for him on that wicket and was able to adapt his game to that.
  They were invited to bat and scored six for 187, a seemingly fair target on a wicket that was playing well.
  The pitch was playing beautifully, but the bowlers stuck to their task.
6. 2.6 Assign to take part in a match, especially in a specified position.
  the manager played his strongest side of the season
  Example sentencesExamples
  One alternative would be to play Danny up front if young Jon Cartledge settles at the back.
  Crewe boss Dario Gradi elected to play his strongest side last night and was rewarded with a half-time lead courtesy of a Rob Hulse goal.
  Dessie O'Malley, Dara Ainsworth, Daniel Fahy and Roger Clarke are all either injured or unavailable and manager Fergie McEllin may be forced to play midfielders up front.
  Perhaps he was wrong not to have played his chosen team before that game.
  When I came back from injury earlier this season, the gaffer took a chance on me and played me up front against Dundee United.
  Eriksson still has not worked out the best partnership to play up front.
  He was played in the wrong position and did not do too well, but as soon as he moved up front he has got better and better.
  The Indian tour selection committee played into their hands by playing just two fast bowlers.
  Advocaat tried playing him up front, but he only managed one goal in seven.
  Whether England manager Clive Woodward plays him at full-back, on the wing or even at centre on Saturday, he is a certain starter.
  At the moment, Fergie is experimenting with playing Scholes up front, just off the big striker, van Nistelrooy.
  Each of these three managers will play their first choice eleven whenever they can.
  He's another natural goal scorer, but Stalybridge have played him in midfield where I think he is wasted.
  Peru greatly altered their team selection and played a defender up front.
  The Giants were playing me out of position at second base, and the Pirates moved me back to third.
  Initially, he was played out of position at right-back.
  Woodward, desperate to get the best out of him, has played him in four positions.
  Playing him in that position helps us to play four bowlers and bat deeper down.
  He let it be known his complaint with Robson was that he was played out of position too often at Newcastle and it was affecting his England career.
  Aliadiere would have started and I wanted to play front him up, but he was sick.
7. 2.7 Move (a piece) or display (a playing card) in one's turn in a game.
  he played his queen
  Example sentencesExamples
  Somebody always has to play the role of banker as well as playing their own piece.
  There may be cards left on the table after everyone has played their cards from the first deal.
  Each player has a hand of six cards, and a turn consists of replenishing your hand to six and then playing a card.
  Upon playing a card, his opponent must lay down all of his cards of the same suit and the same rank.
  Then, on each turn, everyone simultaneously plays a card from their hand.
  If you expose the queen of spades, then the first time that someone leads a spade you are not allowed to play the queen if you have other spades.
  If you have the Ace of trump, you are guaranteed to win the trick you play that in.
  Then she played the last card currently in her hand, which was a 6 of Diamonds, by the way.
  Note that the game very often ends in the middle before all the cards are played.
8. 2.8 Bet or gamble at or on.
  he didn't gamble or play the ponies
  Example sentencesExamples
  Advertised as a game, the online lottery is ‘played’ by buying a free slip over the counter, which allows the buyer to play up to six boards, each priced at Rs.10.
  Even if you're not into playing the ponies, the setting is marvelous and it's a superb place for a picnic.
  I don't play the lotto and I avoid gambling at all costs.
  The club now allows women to play bingo on Sunday afternoons, but it still won't make us full members.
  Another important factor in playing the lottery is to play within your means.
  The money people spend playing the lottery keeps some of these taxes from going up.
  His happiness relies on a visit to the casino to play the slot machines.
  It was his first time at Fair Grounds but playing the ponies is nothing to new to him.
  Mary is not a gambler, but she is very lucky when she plays on the slot machines.
3no object, usually with negative Be cooperative.
he needs financial backing, but the building societies won't play
Example sentencesExamples
- The media got another warning from the White House this week: be careful what you do and say, or we won't play.
- If the lawyers had approved the meetings and then FBI had refused to play, the buck would have been passed to the Bureau.
Synonyms
cooperate, collaborate, play along, play the game, go along with the plan, show willing, be willing, help, lend a hand, assist, be of assistance, contribute, reciprocate, respond
4with object Represent (a character) in a theatrical performance or a film.
early in her career she played Ophelia
Example sentencesExamples
- So playing a Shakespearian character isn't too different, he tells Nick Curtis
- Tom Hanks plays six characters in this new animated movie by Robert Zemeckis.
- Hackman plays a wealthy lawyer who lives in Puerto Rico.
- Laurence Olivier plays Lord Nelson, and Vivien Leigh is Emma, Lady Hamilton, who becomes his lover.
- He plays the central character, and you can tell that he relishes his scenes with Kingsley.
- A devoted father in real life, here he is playing a young man who claims he has stayed in a loveless marriage for the sake of his child.
- Connolly plays a fisherman living in Australia, whose boat is struck by lightning.
- Laurence Olivier plays Crasius, the bisexual emperor, in this historical epic.
- He played Natalie Cole's manager in the made-for-TV movie based on the singer's life.
- The contraceptive pill had been made available for the first time a year earlier, Harold Macmillan was Prime Minister and Sean Connery played James Bond for the first time.
- In the film, John Huston plays an aging film director named Jake Hannaford in the declining years of his career.
- He plays characters his age and doesn't try to pretend he's 20 years younger than he actually is.
- In my next film I'm playing a really intense character and I'm nervous.
- The Australian actor plays a woman who believes her dead husband has been reincarnated in the body of a 10-year-old boy.
- In Noyce's film, Michael Caine plays the aging, indolent British journalist Thomas Fowler.
- But the main roles are all played by actors with little or no experience in westerns.
- Holly Hunter plays the evil work colleague who encourages Murphy's paranoia.
- He even appeared in movies, playing himself in For Those Who Think Young, a comedy about teenagers on Spring Break in Florida.
- Nhlanhla Lata, who began acting when he was 11, plays Michael, and Sam Mabona plays the stage manager.
- It's rather a relief to find that Langridge is nothing like most of the roles he plays on stage.
Synonyms
act the part of, play the part of, act, take the role of, enact, represent, perform, appear as, portray, depict, impersonate, pretend to be, execute, render, interpret
rare personate
1. 4.1no object Perform in a film or theatrical production.
  he was proud to be playing opposite a famous actor
  Example sentencesExamples
  In The Silver Fleet, she plays opposite another star of the London stage, Ralph Richardson.
  He has also played in Irish language productions at the Abbey Theatre.
  Taylor might as well have been playing opposite a wooden Indian for all the response she got from him.
2. 4.2 Put on or take part in (a theatrical performance, film, or concert)
  the show was one of the best we ever played
  Example sentencesExamples
  He played a concert at the hall where I worked before I came here.
  They will play a concert at Bolton's Albert Halls on Saturday before the orchestra.
  Waterford is never far from his heart, however, and he usually plays at least one gig in his home city.
  The Monkees played a post-game concert there after a Rapids match.
  Kissin plays around 40 concerts a year, which is one possible explanation for the fact that he never seems to tire of playing the piano.
  The Rolling Stones played their debut concert at the Marquee club in London in 1962.
  Bryan Ferry is in Auckland at the moment playing concerts tomorrow and Sunday.
  Jools Holland is playing an open-air concert near Tunbridge Wells soon.
  She will also play her first concert in Wales at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on July 30.
  Shankar learned vocals from the age of two, violin from age five and played his first concert at seven.
  The Sligo trio have spoke several times of their burning desire to play a concert in their home town.
  As of this month, I've rejoined my old band as the drummer, and we'll be playing at least four shows in March.
  Their run came to a fitting climax last week when they played their final concert of the season to another full house.
  The Galway band continued to grow their fan base by playing gigs up and down the country, sometimes headlining, sometimes supporting.
  Not only is he alive, but he's healthy, just short of 60 and still playing packed-out concerts.
  Robbie had always wanted to be the first British artist to play a concert in the new Wembley Stadium when it opens next summer.
  The band recently played a concert at the Beacon Court Tavern in his home town of Gillingham.
  Retired John said: ‘Clare now lives in Bath but pops up to visit or stays with us when she's playing a concert up north.’
  Hayes is due to play a concert at the House Of Blues in New Orleans tomorrow.
  Still, it could be a bit late to become interested in their music, since they've just played their last concerts.
  Synonyms
  put on, present, produce, give
3. 4.3 Give a dramatic performance at (a particular theatre or place)
  the company are playing 11 cities around the country
  Example sentencesExamples
  Tonight he plays Glasgow for the first time in years, and I can't decide whether to go or not.
  Suzanne Vega plays the City Hall, Salisbury on 27 June.
  I played some fantastic theatres and worked with some great people.
  Then, at the end of the year, I'll be playing a few venues up and down the country, such as the Armadillo in Glasgow.
  Reynolds plays the Green Room Sunday night and the Railway Club on Wednesday.
  Having played both cities on numerous occasions, the differences are significant.
  He even found time to return to the US, playing venues down the East and West coast, from Boston to Los Angeles.
  He was sheer magic at Garter Lane on his previous visit and should not be missed when he plays the Theatre Royal.
  The brilliant Backbeat Beatles play the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth on Monday.
  Presumably he couldn't resist playing a home town gig on Good Friday, taking him home for the Easter hols.
  That line-up played Brixton Academy and a couple of other gigs until Mark left.
  It had been four years since Blur last played the capital, let us hope that the same amount of time does not have to elapse before the next batch of dates.
  This is the National Theatre's touring production - if it plays anywhere near you, do not miss it.
  I know that I'm going to be playing New York for sure.
  A man who holds a special place in the Irish comic imagination, Brendan always brings the house down in venues he plays around the world.
  I've just tried booking tickets to see Kraftwerk, as I heard they were playing Brixton Academy on 20th March next year.
  Next time they play their home town they deserve to be playing to a packed house.
  The days of playing unglamorous locations like the South Morang Hotel are all over.
  With another couple of live sets under their belts they played the Universe 2 party one year later.
4. 4.4 Behave as though one were (a specified type of person)
  the skipper played the innocent, but smuggled goods were found on his vessel
  Example sentencesExamples
  She stood in the corner playing the shy bride in her long red bridal dress.
  But in the meantime John is more than happy to stay at home and play dad.
  His call for an early election was an attempt to play the hero again.
  A cynic would say that people enjoy playing the victim and jumping on the grief bandwagon, they enjoy the attention and the sympathy.
  Don't play the innocent with me, Gisela - you do this for your benefit as well as mine.
  As a young girl, Cora had always enjoyed playing the nurse for her brother or her cousins.
5. 4.5play someone for Treat someone as being of (a specified type)
  don't imagine you can play me for a fool
  Example sentencesExamples
  She plays him for a fool, often feigning helplessness just to see what lengths he will go to in order to prove his love for her.
  Someone had played me for a sucker and I was going to make sure he - or she - paid for it.
  A councillor has accused a brewery of playing Bexley Council for a mug over a pub's opening hours.
  She and Bruce have been playing me for a fool since the beginning.
  Are you just playing Rob for a sucker, Amber?
5with object Perform on (a musical instrument)
a man was playing a guitar
Example sentencesExamples
- As a teenager he played guitar and harmonica with local bands and skiffle and rock ‘n’ roll groups.
- While Natalie was calling my mom, I heard someone start playing the drums really loud.
- Payne got his harmonica out and another guy was playing the piano.
- Her professional singing career started when a night club owner insisted that she either sang while she played piano, or lost her job.
- A short distance away from us there was a grand piano being played softly by a woman in a green dress.
- She was greatly impressed when she heard Len playing his guitar, and even more impressed with how he could play the piano.
- There are certain dogs that sing whenever someone plays an accordion or a harmonica.
- Hannah was playing the piano and singing when she heard a voice behind her.
- On Friday night we went to see a friend's band playing at a local pub.
- We seemed to like the same songs and besides, he played the guitar better than anyone else I knew.
- Big doors open on to a plant-filled terrace where a jazz band plays on Saturday evenings.
- In the meantime May taught at a school by day and played guitar by night.
- By the summer they were playing at all the major festivals.
- Their sons are still around a lot: Cameron, 22, a musician, is playing the piano when we arrive.
- Sandra would sit there on her bed for hours singing songs and playing her guitar like no one could stop her.
- He loved to play his guitar and harmonica and listen to gospel and bluegrass music.
- So, when I saw that David Crosby and Graham Nash were playing at the new concert hall I just booked tickets, knowing my parents would want to come.
- At a corner near the Peace Memorial, a group of musicians were playing the drums.
- The meal got off to a slightly odd note as a wandering band of minstrels invaded the restaurant and played accordion and guitar loudly.
- He was a keen musician and played the guitar in a local band.
1. 5.1 Possess the skill of performing on (a musical instrument)
  he taught himself to play the violin
  Example sentencesExamples
  As well as playing the flute Rosie plays the piano, violin, guitar and sings.
  Justin s parents began to teach him how to play the piano and the flute when he was about eight years old.
  He taught himself how to play the guitar, and Clapton's ballad was the first song he learned.
  You might want to learn a new skill such as painting or playing a musical instrument, or consider taking up a new sport such as fishing or golf.
  Although singing or playing an instrument is a learned skill, it also is an art.
  I have always begged Nick to teach me to play the guitar but every time he has an excuse not to.
  I bought him a little drum kit and guitar and he could play the piano from when he was a toddler.
  Anxious for the boy's future, his father, William, taught him to play the piano from library books.
  Mr McGovern has written almost 70 songs and taught himself to play the guitar at 18.
  David was a natural musician who taught himself to play the piano after watching a female pianist at his local pub.
  Billy is still playing two nights a week and he taught his eight children to play musical instruments.
  I've been playing the piano and guitar since I was in the third grade and I turn 38 later this year.
  She has taught herself to play rhythm guitar and also plays piano and violin.
  Caleb has always had a passion for music and is learning to play the violin and bass guitar.
  Evora also plays the violin and performed in her high school's symphony for three years.
  He plays the piano and French horn and teaches music to help pay his way through uni.
  His mother, a middle school guidance counselor, plays both clarinet and violin.
  Franz learnt to play the piano and the violin from his father and brothers, and later the viola.
  As a young boy he played the flute, but later took up playing the violin.
  It was Max's grandpa who taught him to play the accordion and speak some Russian.
  Synonyms
  perform on, make music on
  blow, sound, strum
2. 5.2 Produce (notes) from a musical instrument; perform (a piece of music)
  they played a violin sonata
  Example sentencesExamples
  You only have to listen to them play music and perform to see how good they are.
  This is a work for violin and piano, here played by Leopold Avakian and Mitchell Andrews.
  As we walked on stage for our first gig the crowd went wild - and we hadn't played a note.
  When you get there, a jazz group is quietly playing Scott Joplin to an appreciative audience lounging on the grass.
  They will be playing music by Bradford-born Frederick Delius among other composers.
  Inconspicuously, a three piece ensemble plays background music.
  As part of the service, Mr Needham's favourite piece of music was played.
  The group will play works by Mozart and Weber, and a selection of light classics.
  Pupils played classical pieces as well as songs from films and shows.
  They shared a love of music and they would play violin sonatas together, Einstein on the violin and Born on piano.
  They play the same pieces more than once in a season with different conductors.
  She sat down at the piano in front of her copy of the music and played a few random notes, humming along.
  A year later, she was playing the Bach Double Violin Concerto under Menuhin.
  Paddy, who is a noted musician, played a number of tunes on the violin and was in his usual good form.
  He plays Khachaturian's violin concerto next Friday in the opening concert of the NSO's national tour.
  Colin Dean played some pieces on the organ, notably a fantasia by Farnaby.
  The first piece was played so quietly and sensitively that it clearly affected the huge audience.
  They broke into spontaneous clapping, cheering and whistling when the Band of the Irish Guards played Happy Birthday for the Queen at the end of the parade as a surprise.
  The best pieces of American Jazz music will be played and performed on stage.
  The concertmaster played a note on his violin and Lev tuned his instrument to it.
3. 5.3 Make (a disc, music player, or other device) produce sounds or recorded images.
  someone is playing a record—I can hear the drum
  Example sentencesExamples
  These re-enactments were videotaped and the videos were played in court.
  We can't even play the radio in our shop without the Peforming Rights Society wanting a royalty from it.
  Write in to any radio stations you know of and demand that they play this record.
  On the coach back we came down gently while listening to the cricket that the driver insisted on playing on the radio.
  They don't want the ice cream man in their neighborhood because the music he plays wakes up their kid.
  I am making a great big mental note to play this album an awful lot more than I normally do.
  And a third of adults use digital, satellite and cable TV to play the new radio stations.
  He insists on leaving one overcrowded ruin of an apartment building because another refugee plays his radio too loudly.
  Others suggest that if a major artist did record a protest song, no US radio station would play it.
  I mean nobody plays my records any more… I've got this single coming out right, and who's gonna play it?
  She could faintly hear the radio being played and Shawn humming to the beat.
  Still, I didn't really want to be there listening to the DJs playing records, I wanted to see the main act.
  Local radio stations are also interested in playing her work, which Sam compares in style with that of Alanis Morissette.
  She plays a few tracks from Sao Vicente Di Longe, an album by a Cape Verde singer called Cesaria Evora.
  Mr Warren said that it had been proposed to play the video without the sound.
  By 9 pm, I had watched a dvd and played some records, and I was ready for something else.
  A number of new tracks were also played, including the impressive Blonde Ambition.
  They don't stay up all night playing rather loud music, and banging all the house doors.
  Sometimes, just every now and again they play a track I actually like.
  She spent half a day explaining The Beatles to me and playing me their music.
  I played the title track again and again, drugged up to the eyeballs on morphine.
4. 5.4no object (of a musical instrument, music player, or other device) produce sounds or recorded images.
  somewhere within, a harp was playing
  some of the videos are playing without sound
  with object from behind the curtains an organ played a jolly tune
  Example sentencesExamples
  He tilts his head to one side, listening to music playing in the shop.
  He leaves the front door slightly ajar to hear the early Dylan and Stones records playing from inside.
  The National Anthem plays over the sound system.
  Bright Eyes was playing over the sound system and I felt much better, despite being soaked to the bone.
  He lights a cigarette, and as the song plays on the radio, he questions his life - Was his daddy right, is he wasting his life?
  The short-wave radio was playing a soft sound from the American Music Network.
  The jukebox is playing Jazz music and musical notes seem to be floating through the room.
  We then walked in silence to the studio, where the last record was still playing.
  Some kind of Indian stringed instrument is playing quietly over loudspeakers, adding a hint of exoticism.
  The organ started playing as we entered, and the sound was truly heavenly.
  He pauses to savour the Kylie Minogue song playing over the bar sound system.
5. 5.5with object and adverbial of direction Accompany (someone) with music as they are moving in a specified direction.
  the bagpipes played them out of the dining room
  Example sentencesExamples
  Brother James, would you play the girls in please?
  The procession then moved on the Town Hall to be played in by a pianist performing the ‘Uist Tramping Song’.
6no object Move lightly and quickly, so as to appear and disappear; flicker.
little beams of light played over the sea
Example sentencesExamples
- He shook his head, a tiny smile playing over his lips.
- Hope pulled back to look at him for a second, a soft smile playing across her lips.
- A grim smile played briefly on his lips and she knew she wasn't fooling him one bit.
- A weak beam of light suddenly played round the bar, as Diane returned with a torch, and a lantern with a tea light.
- A smile played across her lips as she thought of telling Randy she would be leaving soon.
- His soft babyish snores caused her heart to melt and a light smile played upon her lips.
- She stirred in her sleep at this, and he chuckled a little, his hand still playing lightly over her hair.
- Pulling the door shut behind her, she leaned against it, a light smile playing across her lips.
- A small smile played across his lips as he saw her standing awkwardly by the door.
- Multicolored lights played over the audience, and a disco ball hung in the middle of the ceiling.
- The dim light of dawn played lightly on the morning dew which had gathered on the window glass over night.
- I stopped in front of our garden and Robert stopped as well, a smile playing upon his lips.
- Underneath the floppy hair and the trademark goatee, there is a smile playing on his lips, a twinkle in his eye.
- I peeked around the corner of the alleyway and spotted some shadows playing across the ground via the moonlight.
- But what was so cool was this little smile playing constantly on his lips, as though he was having a private joke inside his head.
- Alexandra's face held an innocent expression, a faint smile playing across her lips.
- I looked at Chris out of the corner of my eye and saw that he had a satisfied smile playing across his lips.
- His eyes showed an active intelligence and a wry smile played across his lips.
- The light from the torches played across her face as she drifted into slumber.
- She turned to her brother, who had a small smile playing across his lips.
Synonyms
move lightly, dance, flit, dart, ripple, lick, touch
1. 6.1 (of a fountain or similar source of water) emit a stream of gently moving water.
  a fountain played in the courtyard
  Example sentencesExamples
  The garden was beautiful, plants and shrubs tumbling around a vibrant lawn in the centre of which a fountain tinkled and played.
  In the centre of the lush garden, an elaborate marble fountain played, spraying sparkling jewels of water into the air.
  The lawns are mown, the box hedge parterres are neatly clipped and the central fountain plays gently in the sunshine.
7with object Allow (a fish) to exhaust itself pulling against a line before reeling it in.
no fisherman ever played a bonita more carefully or with greater wile
Example sentencesExamples
- We spotted that the boat nearest to us had an angler playing a fish and that same fish leapt right in front of our path.
- Noel was very unlucky not to catch the larger pike as he had played the fish well.
- Holding the rod high whilst playing a fish is often a recipe for disaster, especially when the fish is close to the boat.
- Remember the whole rod should be used in playing the fish.
- It wasn't long before a fish appeared and I soon was playing my second fish of the day.

noun pleɪpleɪ

mass noun

1Activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children.
a child at play may use a stick as an aeroplane
Example sentencesExamples
- A picnic area alongside is a great place to sit and relax whilst watching the animals at play.
- I could see small disturbances on the water where schools of fish were at play.
- The Artist's Studio provides an intimate portrait of him at work and at play.
- You'll notice she still enjoys very active play and will love running around the playground or park.
- In any case, children can learn a great many social skills by watching animals at play.
- It was a peaceful, innocent scene, two families at play and celebrating a holiday that meant everything to them.
- Their archive, now in the National Library, features many images of the little girls at play.
- It elicits an almost nostalgic mood and has many fine shots of shops, pubs and children at play.
- In play, children create an imaginary situation in which rules of behaviour are formulated.
- A person may prefer to work with an intense dedication that precludes recreation and play.
- He certainly doesn't bring to mind the stuffy polo and shooting image of British royalty at play.
- The current school is in an extended house and has very small classrooms and little space for outdoor play for the children.
- The children introduced themselves through song and words and we watched them at play.
- There's a pause in the game, and the TV begins showing cute little kittens at play.
- Play areas, and the equipment in them, should be developed to encourage adventurous play.
- The 2,000 parents surveyed said their children were losing the art of inventive, imaginative play.
- Youngsters in a Bradford village are calling for more play activities to help cut vandalism.
- The Playstore is your best source for quality wooden and natural toys for creative and imaginative play.
- While at play, toddlers and young children are usually in the care of older siblings.
- The sounds of children at play can be heard.
Synonyms
amusement, entertainment, relaxation, recreation, enjoyment, pleasure, diversion, distraction, leisure, fun, games, fun and games
playfulness, horseplay, skylarking, larks, a good time, jollification, junketing, merrymaking, revelry
informal living it up
dated sport
1. 1.1 Behaviour or speech that is not intended seriously.
  I flinched, but only in play
  Example sentencesExamples
  Gordy and Stevie were fighting, but Rhiannon knew it was only in play.
  Teach kids to respect the cat, and do not allow them to chase or corner the cat even in play.
2. 1.2as modifier Designed to be used in games of pretence; not real.
  play families are arranged in play houses
2The conducting of a sporting match.
rain wrecked the second day's play
Example sentencesExamples
- In the second half, play was constantly disrupted by both sides making a number of substitutions.
- The Regiment formed a guard of honour before today's play commenced.
- In addition, cricket has breaks in play between overs every three or four minutes.
- During the interval the referee walked the pitch trying to decide whether there was enough light for play to continue.
- Schofield looked less assured when he finally came on to bowl, going for nine runs in his only over before bad light ended play.
- The game opened in the same vein as it was to continue with the play constantly interrupted by fouls.
- Ingrow St John's looked to be coasting to victory at home to Chatburn when play was interrupted.
- They were up against it in this match too, conceding a goal after just 35 seconds of play.
- The first day's play on Friday was restricted to 10.2 overs.
- For the first day golfers played 18 holes to determine their placing on the second day of play.
- England was 80 for one when bad light finally halted a frustrating day's play with 30 overs still remaining.
- After two hours and 17 minutes of play the match was abandoned with Greenock on 136 for three.
- The first half took time to catch fire as play was constantly interrupted by the referee's whistle.
- Incidentally Kim has gone down clutching his ankle so there's going to be a break in play.
- Germany's thoughtful coach Rudi Voller used the break in play to throw water-bottles to his players.
- However he is not very sympathetic when describing poor skill on the field of play.
- He bowled his heart out and all credit to him for livening up the final day's play.
- Each day's play starts at 10 am.
- Players cannot touch the sides or floor of the pool, and must tread water even when not involved in play.
- He did admit that he had felt in charge of the match before play was halted.
1. 2.1 The action or manner of engaging in a sport or game.
  he maintained the same rhythm of play throughout the game
  Example sentencesExamples
  The wind was making it difficult for both sides and the quality of play did not match that of the first half.
  Today, we have got used to watching almost constant attacking play.
  Then in the final minutes of the match some good driving play by Athy saw Gorey concede a penalty.
  For many years they were treated to glorious attacking play which won football matches.
  There was zest and quick movement to United's play despite spells of control by Rangers.
  Saturday's match had plenty of open play but solid defences proved hard to breach at both ends of the pitch.
  There was a slightly frantic, nervous element to their play after they conceded a needless goal.
  Their half-back followed up a good break and saw his support play rewarded with the try.
  His balance is good, his footwork is excellent and his offensive play is there for all to see - it has been superb.
  He has good speed, but he needs to avoid the silly mistakes that have plagued his play.
  The crowds in the St Jakobshalle took instantly to Murray's style of play and his expressive personality.
  This year, though, he has wisely kept his mouth shut and let his play do the talking.
  His play in October has enhanced his standing as one of the game's top young hitters.
  The visitors just about deserved their victory for their more incisive back play.
  The referee had very little to do in this match such was the standard of play and sportsmanship.
  He had eight doubles, a triple and two home runs in his first month of major league play.
  The first half was close with neither side gaining dominance in any area of play.
  Superb play by Dave Armstrong earned him the man of the match award and a goal.
  I think our style of play means we always risk conceding goals but we try to mitigate that with good attacks.
  With play moving fast up and down field the defences on each side were getting the better of the forward lines.
2. 2.2 The status of the ball in a game as being available to be played according to the rules.
  the ball was put in play
  Example sentencesExamples
  Windass kept the ball in play and ferried it back to Morrison but there was no conviction about his shot.
  He walks off the pitch to get treatment, Nigeria kick the ball out of play so he can come back on.
  It was struck well but the ball hit the cross bar and bounced back into play.
  For example, the rules of tennis clearly specify when a ball is in play and when it is out of play.
  Sure, there may be a few more aces than in the past, but a lot more balls are put back into play too.
  But it was nice to get hold of the ball as quickly as possible and get it back into play.
  Greece sportingly kick the ball out of play as the duo try to clear their heads.
  From the free, the ball goes out of play for an Irish throw deep inside their own half.
  David Hagen knocked the ball out of play but inexplicably a corner, not a goal kick, was awarded.
  So why not let the computer decide when a ball is in play and keep time for us.
  Irwin had already been booked for a foul when he played on after the ball was judged to have gone out of play.
  Emre goes down injured and the ball is put out of play so that he can receive treatment.
  The ball goes out of play and he gets to his feet with the air about him of a man who'd settle for a corner.
  If a ball runs out of play or into the goal, the ref is alerted by a device on his wrist.
  All three hit cracking drives, and all three were reduced to hacking their second shots back into play.
  It just puts too much of a demand on the rest of your game, so you have to keep the ball in play.
  The free-kick ends up being played into the corner, but Onder Turaci fails to keep it in play.
  Those who struggle to get a ball airborne or keep it in play should probably think twice.
  Prop Howard Carr kicked a penalty into touch and the ball bounced back into play after hitting a tree.
  The ball was on the verge of going out of play, so the angle was rather narrow.
3. 2.3 The state of being active, operative, or effective.
  someone has a bright idea and decides to put it into play
  the forces of a worldwide economy are in play
  Example sentencesExamples
  There are a number of factors at play here, just one of which is the fact that eating badly is cheaper, unfortunately.
  The choices are his to make, but the forces at play in his life are far beyond his control.
  There are, of course, a number of policy considerations in play here, some in conflict.
  The enemy artillery comes into play and a hail of bullets starts to rain down.
  Once your income exceeds this tax-free figure, a series of tax bands then comes into play.
  I personally think that the whole argument about civil liberties comes into play again.
  The fitness we worked so hard on, that's when it all comes into play, when the season gets gruelling.
  He has been guilty of significant mistakes; but there is another agenda at play here.
  It was a compelling theory, but Sarah was well aware that there had been other factors in play.
  But there was more than thwarted ambition and ministerial rivalry at play here.
  It is only when more than two teams finish level on points and they have all beaten one another that run rate comes into play.
  The most likely explanation is that all of these factors were in play.
  Bravery and heroism come into play when a person potentially puts the safety of others before their own.
  The US Government's Bureau of Labor says there may be unusual seasonal factors at play in the figures.
  This is where personal campaigning by influential people here comes into play.
  It only leaves the cynics to presume that maybe other motives are in play.
  So much for the various competing, and conflicting interests that are in play.
  I suspect there is an element of wounded national pride at play here.
  For those who like to invest, the shares part of the ISA comes into play.
  The Corsa comes with electric power steering, which only comes into play when needed.
  Synonyms
  action, activity, operation, movement, motion, agency, employment, working, function, functioning, exercise, interaction, interplay
4. 2.4count noun A move or manoeuvre in a sport or game.
  the best play is to lead the 3 of clubs
  Example sentencesExamples
  They were one or two plays away from winning all three games.
  Try and get some of the young players in the league to sit around after a game and rehash the plays.
  But Woodson is getting more chances to make big plays in the passing game this season.
  There were some exceptional fielding plays on both sides in this game.
  His playing time has been reduced to about 20 plays per game, mostly on passing downs.
  The truly great players make critical defensive plays, hit big shots and hit crucial free throws down the stretch.
  When the ball is in flight, he has a history of attacking it and making the big play.
  He always makes the right play, and he even makes the plays you don't think he can make.
  That's what is most important to them - having a field that helps them make the plays that win the game.
  He has good vision and hockey sense, and he can make plays and score big goals.
  They are making the skilled, individual plays the team has been lacking the past few years.
  Young and Rice hook up for a 44-yard touchdown on the third play from scrimmage.
  Don't try new shots, plays, or moves in the heat of battle, especially if you haven't practiced them.
  The players had been told and shown all Salford's inside plays around the rucks and they knew how to counteract them.
  He must prove to scouts he can stay healthy and give a solid effort on every play.
  At moments in a game great plays are needed, no matter what the defense, and the superstar shifts gears.
  It's the most exciting play for a catcher, and when you do it and do it right, it feels good.
  He makes good adjustments to the ball and seems to be in on every play from scrimmage.
  On one play, he got the ball on the right side and began dribbling toward the baseline.
  He is strong enough to play off blocks and make plays in the running game and agile enough to be an asset in coverage.
  Synonyms
  turn, go
5. 2.5archaic The activity of gambling.
  a young nobleman, ruined by play
  Example sentencesExamples
  A gentleman complained to Talleyrand of having been insulted by a charge of cheating at play.
3count noun A dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast.
the actors put on a new play
Example sentencesExamples
- The couple have attended the Christmas plays at the school every year since Daniel was five.
- A short season of lunchtime performances will begin this July with a play by Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor.
- He has written two children's plays entitled the Brown Man and the Donkey Prince.
- Its lively resident theater group stages musicals, plays, readings, and concerts here all year.
- I went to see a double bill of two plays by Harold Pinter.
- Her career has included stage roles in plays by Shakespeare, Chekhov and Ibsen.
- Noel Coward's Private Lives is one of those plays beloved of amateur dramatic societies.
- From creating skits, he moved into writing one-act plays and finally into creating full-length dramas.
- It is a dark play about a married couple who try to deal with the death of their son.
- The group have staged many fine plays and performances here in the past.
- At the close of the play resolutions are being made, and new friendships look to have a promising future.
- This Pinter play lives up to the writer's reputation for delivering tightly crafted plays with unexpected twists.
- The play sums up all of the uncertainty of the age, while at the same time bringing the issues and ideas of 18th century England right up to date.
- The Globe Theatre is a reconstruction of the theatre in which Shakespeare's plays were originally staged.
- In 1913, she found a job on the Winnipeg Telegraph and also appeared in a number of plays at the local theatre.
- The future of an ambitious project to stage all the Shakespeare plays is in doubt after the resignation of its director.
- The show was picked as one of the top ten plays at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival when it was first performed there.
- The association of music and drama goes back all the way to ancient Greece with the plays of Euripides and Sophocles.
- Theatregoers have a choice of two plays on most nights with opportunities to see the entire programme in just one week.
- Akira Kurosawa made three films based on Shakespeare plays.
Synonyms
drama, stage play, stage show, theatrical work, theatrical piece, radio play, television play, teleplay, screenplay, comedy, tragedy, farce, sketch
production, performance, spectacle, show
4The space in or through which a mechanism can or does move.
the steering rack was loose, and there was a little play
Example sentencesExamples
- The action is smooth, the cylinder locks up tightly with very little play, and the trigger pull is light and crisp.
- Since then there's been a lot of play in the steering.
Synonyms
movement, freedom of movement, free motion, slack, give
room to manoeuvre, room to operate, scope, latitude, elbow room, space, margin
1. 4.1 Scope or freedom to act or operate.
  our policy allows the market to have freer play
  Example sentencesExamples
  It also recognises the fact that the free play of markets creates problems for society.
  Synonyms
  scope, range, latitude, liberty, licence, freedom, indulgence, free rein, release
5Light and constantly changing movement.
the artist exploits the play of light across the surface
Example sentencesExamples
- Be sure to visit at different times of the day and evening to enjoy the play of light.
- The work conveys a subtle depth and a play of light worthy of a Morandi still life.
- But this simply melts into a soft play of colours and light as you enter the chapel.
- He stopped and leaned over the bridge wall to watch the play of light on the river.
- But you also want to create a play of light and shade on the objects before you, revealing depth, form and mood.
- The deliberate use of an uneven surface allows for the greater play of light.
- Once lighted, it gives out a kaleidoscopic effect from the play of light on the designs.
- He frequently focuses on faces and uses the play of light and shadow to potent effect.
- You talk a lot about landscape and beauty and the play of light on the northern hills.
- The play of light through the space has overtones of spirituality and introspection.
- For a filmmaker there are no more basic elements at work than the play between light and shade.
- He was the first photographer really to capture the play of light in interior settings.

Phrases

bring (or call) into play

Cause something to start working so that one can make use of it.
he cannot afford to bring into play the kind of leadership veto that operated all those years ago
Example sentencesExamples
- The organizational genius of Lazare Carnot was brought into play to help turn a revolutionary rabble into a properly equipped fighting force.
- Of course in order to do all of this, a Digital Rights Management regime has to be brought into play that doesn't rely on locking down music.
- These disciplinary procedures can be brought into play even where a patient has not suffered because of the breach of confidence.
- In December 2003 new technology was brought into play to fight the battle of icy roads.
- The fall-out will be even worse should the not proven verdict be called into play.
- Assessments by psychologists with a specialty in end-of-life issues could be brought into play.
- Here the entire information base of the tradition is likely to be called into play, by both opponents and supporters of the tradition.
- It is not unusual at Celtic Park for the services of a behavioural expert to be brought into play, although this is normally for the study of referees.
- Extra pairs of hands have been brought into play to ensure a North Yorkshire historic hall is safely ‘put to bed’ for the winter.
- All of his secretarial skills were called into play on this occasion however as young people crowded around him, all wanting to be registered quickly and get on the water.
Synonyms
use, employ, exercise, make use of, utilize, avail oneself of, put to use
bring into play, bring into service, arouse, generate, induce, cause, resort to, awaken, deploy, waken, excite, incite, provoke, foment, prompt, stimulate, stir up, impel, galvanize, urge, encourage, inspire, whip up

come into play

Becoming active, operative, or effective.
luck comes into play
Example sentencesExamples
- Adding to the complexity, state ethics rules also come into play.
- All variety of perceptual illusion comes into play to cover up the flaws in the technology.
- Proximity doesn't come into play in the case of Japan, which produces 5 million of our visitors.
- Then moral factors come into play - which, for some people, is too much to cope with.
- Most notably, at least two helicopters that have rescue hoists, you know, which obviously could come into play.
- The concern for our joint responsibility to encourage rehabilitation should come into play in borderline cases.
- I just thought there would be quite a bit of reporting whether or not that law would come into play here.
- There comes a point in the refurbishment process where the law of diminishing returns come into play.
- This is where personal campaigning by influential people here comes into play.
- Throughout my course of investigation, I have seen this tenet come into play many times.

make a play for

informal Attempt to attract or attain.
we invited men to make a play for the award
she started to make a play for the young man
Example sentencesExamples
- Jim Moran of Virginia is making a play for the leadership.
- Kerry Gill, the editor of the Scottish edition of the Daily Express, last night lashed out at a rival paper for making a play for his readers.
- Waterford Wedgwood has said it has no intention yet of making a play for the company itself but many analysts believe it would use its sizeable stake to block anyone else getting their hands on it.
- You'll never believe who Trina Matheson made a play for!
- ‘Developers are making a play for downtown residential space, taking advantage of of tax incentives and loans from the city of Jacksonville,’ the report says.
- The buying spree lasted from October 2004 to January 2005 and Mr Lynch's activity convinced analysts he was attempting to make a play for the group.
- But he withdrew from consideration, making a play for a position of vice president instead.
- He was talking to other friends when he noticed another man making a play for his girlfriend.
- The poor chap's probably aching for a spot of home cooking and, if you ask him for a meal with one or two others, he needn't feel you're making a play for him.
- Speaking only for myself, I can't imagine making a play for a straight guy.
Synonyms
make sexual advances to, make advances to, make sexual overtures to, proposition, make a sexual approach to

make (great) play of (or with)

Draw attention to in an ostentatious manner, typically to gain prestige or advantage.
the company made great play of their recent growth in profits
Example sentencesExamples
- They made great play of the fact they've spent £300,000 on redecorating the place.
- McConnell has made great play of promising that the extra £3.2bn invested in the Scottish health service over the next five years will not simply be a blank cheque.
- He makes great play of his non-establishment (meaning non-public school, and non-Oxbridge) background.
- For all their perceived monetary difficulties, Hibs continue to make great play of plans to build two football academy-type centres, though both proposals are proceeding slowly.
- The revised figure is an embarrassment for the Government, which has made great play of its success in bringing the backlog down from a record high of 103,000 at the start of last year.
- He even makes great play of the fact that he used to be right-wing.
- The US, British, Japanese, Canadian and European governments all made great play of their desire to help the world's poorest countries.
- In November 2002, the UK media made great play of the fact that a passenger was able to travel to Zambia on her husband's passport.
- Hostile contemporary commentators naturally made great play with alleged waste at court, castigating a spendthrift queen Marie-Antoinette in particular.
- Both reported strong results but, more significantly, made play of the fact that they are the kind of company clients turn to during a downturn because they supply more ‘cost-effective’ solutions.

make play with

Treat frivolously.
leaders should not make play with values and ideals

play both ends against the middle

Keep one's options open by supporting or favouring opposing sides.
Example sentencesExamples
- Like him, he was a brilliant speaker and lawyer and played both ends against the middle.
- The only catch is that Stoker's been losing so many fights that his manager - playing both ends against the middle - doesn't feel compelled to let Stoker know he's been contracted to take a dive in the third round.
- Big Oil is hardly blameless and at the start was no doubt trying to play both ends against the middle.
- It is critical that the parents develop a civil means of communication, such as by e-mail or communication book, or Alex will take advantage of the lacuna to play both ends against the middle.
- He is trying to play both ends against the middle.
- How do you know that he's not playing both ends against the middle?

play something by ear

1Perform music without having to read from a score.
she could play both by ear and by reading
Example sentencesExamples
- Almost every Kazak knows how to sing and play a musical instrument by ear.
- Later on, I discovered I could play the piano by ear and it became my passion.
- Today he still can't read music; he plays instruments by ear.
- He taught himself to play a bit by ear, amused the rowdy crowds, and picked up small change.
- He learned to play the piano by ear, developing a talent for improvisation which, years later, he would put to good use during the filming of America: A Personal History of the United States.
- For relaxation he played the piano by ear, favouring Chopin's Etudes.
- Have you truly achieved mastery of your instrument if you cannot play it by ear?
- He was born into a family of musicians, and by the age of four he could play any tune by ear.
1. 1.1informal Proceed instinctively according to results and circumstances rather than according to rules or a plan.
  we'll just have to play it by ear until we can get something definite sorted out
  Example sentencesExamples
  Unless you're specifically dating to get married, or you have some sort of long-term plan from the start, isn't a lot safer to play it by ear?
  Though his parents believe studies and going to a university are important, they are going to play it by ear.
  We'll play quite a lot of tunes from the latest LP, but usually we play it by ear and see how the gig's going and then throw in some tracks from the older albums.
  I can't predict how it's going to go, though, so I'll just play it by ear.
  We haven't got any plans as yet, and we don't know when the next thing will be and we're just kind of playing it by ear.
  That's a decision for the future, and we'll play it by ear.
  I haven't made any decisions; I'm just going to play it by ear.
  ‘There are storms forecast for later in the week but we are just playing it by ear,’ said trainer Michael Jarvis.
  I'm not sure what's on the itinerary; we'll just play it by ear; might visit a gallery, go for something to eat, etc.
  We are just playing it by ear and waiting to see what is going to happen.
  Synonyms
  improvise, extemporize, rise to the occasion, ad lib
  improvise, extemporize, ad lib

play by one's own rules

Act as one chooses, rather than following convention.
a maverick cop who plays by his own rules
Example sentencesExamples
- The commercial portrays him as an imperious billionaire who plays by his own rules.
- She obviously has a warm relationship with the president but is known for playing by her own rules.
- The move allows him to legitimately work from outside the system and play by his own rules.
- The local authorities find it might just be best to let him play by his own rules.
- For better or worse, he has always played by his own rules, no matter how ridiculous it's made him look.
- He was a man out of control trying to make sense of what he did by playing by his own rules.
- The teenage thug is determined to play by his own rules and he continues to break things, steal cars, huff glue.
- He plays by his own rules, and that ultimately may be the personality trait that overrides his talent.
- Other cops are actually working with him for once, instead of branding him as a maverick "cowboy" playing by his own rules.
- I have this one idea about a cop who's about to get thrown off the force, because he plays by his own rules.

play by the rules

Follow what is generally held to be the correct line of behaviour.
journalists who refused to play by the rules
Example sentencesExamples
- They feel betrayed because they work hard and play by the rules and expect a fair chance to compete in the world economy.
- The role of an umpire and a judge is critical to make sure everybody plays by the rules.
- The system should be there for people who are playing by the rules - if they can work they should, if they can't we look after them as a community.
- Compulsory schooling defines good citizens as those who play by the rules, stay in line, and do as they're told.
- Capone is a Jamaican cop who refuses to play by the rules.
- He defended the £20,000 poured into the marginal seats of Romsey and Eastleigh by party treasurer Lord Ashcroft for campaigns, saying the party was playing by the rules and not using an unfair advantage.
- To win in a competition, it is often necessary to avoid playing by the rules.
- Michael Buchan claims that he and his fellow Scottish white fish producers are being penalised for playing by the rules.
- The belief that if one works hard and plays by the rules, one will have a reasonable chance of succeeding as a child and an adult (the American Dream) is a central organizing and motivating force in our society.
- If it became too difficult to obtain parole then they could create a faction of dissident prisoners who will see no incentive in playing by the rules and addressing their offending behaviour.
Synonyms
play fair, be fair, play by the rules, abide by the rules, follow the rules, conform, be a good sport, toe the line, keep in step

play fair

Observe principles of justice; avoid cheating.
he decided to play fair and own up
Example sentencesExamples
- To Sam this wasn't playing fair, but they soon found out that despite clauses in the contract of sale that forbade such enterprises there was pragmatically not much they could do.
- IOC president Jacques Rogge encouraged athletes to play fair.
- To continue the footballing analogy, it is like asking footballers to sign a formal declaration before each game that they will not cheat and will always play fair.
- It was maddening to see skiers I knew to be playing fair, guys who trained their hearts out with little financial reward, lose to the cheaters.
- There is in fact no yardstick by which one country can be judged to be playing fair in its trade relations with others.
- That's a big boast, but the bill does not contain that much by way of safeguards for punters, and there is nothing at all to say that bookmakers must play fair by clients, even those who win.
- But over the past fortnight, Hunter and Gorman have been reduced to defending their integrity and business dealings against accusations that they failed to play fair.
- If they broke rules, why should we now be expected to play fair?
- We believe our customers want the security of a bank which is here for the long term, which plays fair and has no nasty surprises up its sleeve.
- An African sugar farmer has visited Manchester to try to persuade traders and politicians to play fair when buying his produce.
Synonyms
play fair, be fair, play by the rules, abide by the rules, follow the rules, conform, be a good sport, toe the line, keep in step

play someone false

Deceive or cheat someone.
the Assembly played us false
his memory plays him false if he thinks I chose this post
Example sentencesExamples
- Sophia now sees that he has played her false. He is not her true love.
- His post-1934 correspondence and memoirs frequently contradict reliable accounts of the period, and the conclusion that his memory played him false on numerous occasions is inescapable.
Synonyms
betray, cheat, defraud, trick, hoodwink, mislead, deceive, swindle, break one's promise to, be disloyal to, be unfaithful to, break faith with, play false, fail, let down

play fast and loose

Behave irresponsibly or immorally.
I am not someone who plays fast and loose with other people's lives
Example sentencesExamples
- This is the norm in overseas universities, where academics caught making up ‘evidence,’ doctoring lab results and playing fast and loose with the facts get into an awful lot of trouble.
- It appears that someone was playing fast and loose with the facts.
- Practicing cheap and dirty politics, playing fast and loose with the facts and even lying: Accusations like these, and worse, have been slung nonstop this year.
- Like Atkinson he will risk abuse if he plays fast and loose with the story.
- As a historian and also a lover of the arts, Marshall has no problem with Schiller's playing fast and loose with the facts.
- This film about the Latin American revolutionary plays fast and loose with the facts.
- Many people around Scotland's coasts have done very nicely for decades out of taking too many fish from the sea, failing to plan for stock regeneration and playing fast and loose with European fisheries quotas.
- Meanwhile, Chris, one of his students, is blazing away at his own novel, a historical saga that plays fast and loose with the facts about Mary, Queen of Scots.
- You already noted that Moore plays fast and loose with the facts, and mildly criticized him for it.
- While on the topic of movies; Ridley Scott's latest movie venture on the Crusades has earned him the the ire of history academics who have accused him of playing fast and loose with the truth.
Synonyms
trifle, toy, play, amuse oneself, flirt, play fast and loose, tinker, philander, womanize, carry on

play favourites

Show favouritism towards someone or something.
the Soviet diplomat said he wasn't playing favourites in the presidential campaign
Example sentencesExamples
- She didn't play favourites: she treated me just as she would any of her other students, calling on me to answer questions, say words.
- I think the publisher is just playing favourites and I'm very offended.
- It was announced only that the climate in the team was not good, and that he had played favourites with some players.
- They crowded around her, and Koko, who plays favourites, asked one woman wearing red to come closer.
- How could I ever play favourites between these two.
- I won't start naming them cause I don't want to play favourites.
- ‘I'm the prime minister of Australia, you have to understand I don't play favourites between different parts of the country, ‘he said.’
- People were swearing at me the whole time and accusing me of playing favourites.
- Many smash repairers say the insurance companies are going too far, and playing favourites, even amongst the preferred repairers.
- You could tell the teacher played favourites, and that I wouldn't be one of them.

play for time

Use specious excuses or unnecessary manoeuvres to gain time.
he played for time by establishing an advisory committee
Example sentencesExamples
- They could opt to follow the tobacco industry and play for time, which you'd have to say has worked out very well for tobacco firms.
- And he played for time, urging the U.S. to be patient.
- De Lancourt played for time, telling his creditors that he was expecting a £1000 bank draft - any day.
- I would urge Bolton Council to tell the developers to stop playing for time, get this through the planning committee once and for all, and reject this application in any form.
- Many commentators believe the Government is simply playing for time.
- It is possible that investors who rejected its advances on Friday were merely playing for time given that there is a bid on the table, and maybe a higher one to follow.
- Instead he reaches for his glass, hoping to play for time - and to get some courage from the wine.
- The Government - pleading realpolitik, invoking the national interest and playing for time - seem to have pacified, at least on the surface, an angry public.
- Was there anything to be gained by playing for time, trying to learn more of what he might be facing?
- They're playing for time and our position is they should not be allowed to do that.
Synonyms
use delaying tactics, stall, temporize, gain time, hang back, hang fire, hold back, procrastinate, beat about the bush, drag one's feet, delay, filibuster, stonewall

play a (or one's) hunch

Make an instinctive choice.
it had only been a shot in the dark—playing a hunch, really
Example sentencesExamples
- ‘So what it all comes down to is, you're playing a hunch, Gov?’ said Smith.
- When that webpage was completely open, Brant found the site's search engine and played his hunch.
- Go ahead, play your hunch, take the chance,
- ‘This is no time for playing a hunch,’ Warren warned.
- Just playing a hunch, but I think that might be our boy.
- But there will be occasions when they play a hunch or follow an adventurous whim.

play oneself in

Become accustomed to the circumstances and conditions of a game or activity.
once he had played himself in he was an excellent stroke-maker
Example sentencesExamples
- Having played himself in, however, he began to turn what had been a one - sided game into a real contest.
- It's good for people who want to watch a game after work, but I think the art of batting is to work out the pitch and play yourself in.
- The Scotland duo have already displayed the shrewdness of Greenock's recruitment policy with a string of impressive performances and both men once again looked in the mood as they played themselves in against the visiting attack.
- From the start Stoehr looked nervous and rather than play herself in with some long length rallies, she was shooting from the beginning with the usual results.
- Look to play yourself in - that's what I constantly keep telling myself these days.
- In the circumstances, Jayawardene and Nawaz were forced to play themselves in cautiously, with the inevitable result of a drop in the scoring rate.
- Lambert played himself in, then delivered his six.
- Scott, the young amateur, played himself in steadily before opening out with a string of sparkling strokes.
- We try to stick with people to give them a chance to play themselves in but if someone is not producing what we need we will have to make changes.
- Instead of allowing Hamilton the time to play himself in, he was discarded immediately in the aftermath of the Wanderers debacle, notwithstanding overwhelming evidence that his team-mates had also let themselves down.
Synonyms
adapt, adjust, accommodate, familiarize, acclimatize, accustom, attune, habituate, condition, find one's feet

play into someone's hands

Act in such a way as unintentionally to give someone an advantage.
they accused him of playing into the hands of the enemy
Example sentencesExamples
- When I won, it was blowing a howling gale in the first round, really tough, and that played into my hands.
- I fear I may already be playing into their hands by writing this and giving them more publicity, but I couldn't be silent.
- I think that we are playing into his hands, I don't think that a man like this should be given air time.
- Most drivers and team engineers believe that Ferrari's advantage was exaggerated because the cool weather in Melbourne played into their hands.
- The American captain, Curtis Strange, may have unwittingly played into Torrance 's hands.
- Their forwards did not appear to be of true world class, but France were so hopeless that they played into New Zealand 's hands.
- The SNP believes that the First Minister has blundered by playing into their hands.
- When his family rowed with him, he simply began spending even more time with Eyre, playing into his hands.
- We really gave the ball away far too much and, in the end played into Middlesbrough 's hands.
- Half way through the third race there was no way I thought I would win but suddenly everything started playing into my hands and I took advantage.

play it cool

informal Make an effort to be or appear to be calm and unemotional.
the band wanted the deal badly, but were determined to play it cool
Example sentencesExamples
- Chantelle's heart jumped into her throat but she played it cool.
- Nevertheless Phil and I absolutely fell for each other but for once in my life I played it cool.
- I was trying to play it cool, but once we'd landed and were whisked away to our Grandstand seats, I degenerated into excited schoolboy mode.
- I fell for her too quickly, really, and she played it cool in them days.
- Obviously I knew what they were talking about but I tried to play it cool, in case it wasn't what I thought it was.
- I was too busy playing it cool to realize how stupid I had just been.
- Figuring he was interested, she played it cool.
- Mom is playing it cool, but her eyes betray her real emotions.
- He tried to play it cool but I could see that he was nervous.
- I considered playing it cool, and pretending that I knew all along.

play it straight

1Act or perform seriously, without excessive embellishment or affectation.
she played it straight with the intent of presenting a believable character
Example sentencesExamples
- Stone, to his credit, plays it straight, making something of lasting value as a result.
- The pair ham up their villainous parts while Nelson and the boys play it straight, confounding the audience about who to sympathize with.
- He insisted he would tamp his sense of humor down and play it straight and earnest.
- He is determined to make his actors believe that this insanity is sane, making sure, at all times, that they're playing it straight.
- The fact he is playing it for laughs and playing it straight at the same time is on occasion an unsettling twist.
- The voice acting is above average—even when the dialogue borders on ridiculous the actors play it straight.
- While he's good in comedy, the guy also seems to be fine at playing it straight.
- He plays it straight as the tweedy teacher's assistant who lusts after the same girl as the studly Meyer.
- It all sounds incredibly goofy but they're playing it straight and the results look shockingly good.
1. 1.1Act in an honest and open manner, without deception or trickery.
  corporate executives don't always play it straight
  Example sentencesExamples
  Play it straight, and your divorce will go more smoothly.
  He has been around long enough to know that trust depends on playing it straight.
  Perhaps they are paying the price for not playing it straight up.
  He has spent enough years on Capitol Hill to know that auditors and examiners play it straight.
  I think if you just look at his books and look at his work product in the newspaper, you'll see that he plays it straight.
  This is going to be a general principle of governing: no spin, play it straight, describe to the people the state that we're in, and then provide them and Congress a sense of direction.
  He played it straight, saying the party did not want to change the way pensions were calculated.
  The only people I have trouble with are the ones who don't play it straight.

play the market

Speculate in stocks.
these investors know how to play the market and win
Example sentencesExamples
- If you have more than 25 years you can afford to really play the market and put most of your investments in the stock market.
- He took loans against his credit cards, home equity loans, and whatever else he could get to play the market.
- If you have the foresight to start planning when your child is still an infant, you will be much freer to play the market and make higher risk, higher return investments in a 15 to 18-year period.
- If you still can't make an informed decision after an intensive study of research reports, prospectuses and the financial figures a company puts out, you are probably not meant to play the market.
- For most stock market investors, whether pension funds or individuals playing the market from their home PC, short-term growth is the goal.
- Indeed, the results of BusinessWeek's annual survey of the 500 biggest offshore funds show that, in spite of all the gloom and doom, it's possible to play the market and win.
- Shareholders in western corporations are usually motivated to play the market for just one thing: money.
- Virtually every dollar he got his hands on, right to the end of his life in 1950, was lost playing the market.
- He attributes his success to playing the market rather than investing in it.
- Of course if you want to speculate or play the market, you need to acknowledge that you are taking on board, or you're voluntarily assuming, a degree of risk.
Synonyms
gamble, take a chance, take a risk, venture, take a venture, wager

a play on words

A pun.
every page contains a subtle play on words or arresting metaphor
Example sentencesExamples
- For those of you out there who didn't realise it was a play on words.
- ‘The title's a play on words, really,’ he explains.
- The headline, ‘The Last Anchor,’ is a play on words: ‘anchor’ as in anchorman and also any object that secures firmly.
- I was unprepared, though, for the excellence of chef Willie Little's establishment Exceed - a play on words which refers to the premises, once the shop and loft for seed merchants.
- ‘Modern ‘readers of this book are in for a pleasant surprise from the outset - its very title turns out to be a play on words.’
- If the title contains subtlety, or a play on words, or something that Germans are unlikely to be able to easily translate, they may go for a different English language title.
- It is called sound geometry and is just a play on words really because the CD's are about sound usually and it is a very geometrical concept.
- Why is something less ‘obscene’ because it's a play on words?
- By his own admission, the self-congratulatory title is actually a play on words based on the legendary Studio One in Kingston.
- He said: ‘The youth church will be called Sorted, which is a bit of a play on words, because as well as being a trendy, youth culture word, ‘soter’ is Greek for salvation.
- The word Utopia, in More's hands, is actually a play on words.
Synonyms
pun, wordplay, double entendre, double meaning, innuendo, witticism, quip, quibble

play a part

Make a contribution to a situation.
social and economic factors may have also played a part
he personally wanted to thank those nurses and staff who had played a part in his recovery
Example sentencesExamples
- There is, however, a great deal of satisfaction to be gained from playing a part in developing health services.
- Evidently the type of vocational emphasis in the chosen school plays a part in early school leaving.
- The possibly calming effect of having family present for the control group during the intervention could have played a part in the reaction.
- Mr Simpson said: "The main point of the day was to remember everyone who played a part in D-Day".
- A couple of lineup changes may play a part in Game Three.
- In practice, elements of all are likely to play a part.
- The survey, carried out by the Co-operative Bank, interviewed 1020 people to see how much ethics play a part in consumer spending.
- The financial advantage of being in an Enterprise Zone also played a part.
- A sharp rise in life expectancy has also played a part.
- The criminal justice system also plays a part in moral education.
Synonyms
contribute to, be instrumental in, be a factor in, be partly responsible for, have a hand in, be conducive to, make for, lead to, cause, give rise to

play (or play it) safe (or for safety)

Take precautions; avoid risks.
I think we'll play safe and get another set of X-rays done
Example sentencesExamples
- Sometimes, in politics as well as in poker, playing safe isn't the best strategy.
- But I decided that playing it safe would be no fun at all.
- The results so far show that women prefer to play it safe than to take risks with their money.
- Antonio maintains he thought he was playing it safe, because his computer was not directly connected to the Internet.
- I'm the kind of person who would rather play it safe and lose out than risk everything and have a chance at winning.
- He has never concealed the fact that he is a moderate politician who plays safe, so he is not about to stick his neck out.
- I've spent so much of my life being afraid, missing out on experiences because I was playing it safe, staying within the lines, doing what was expected of me.
- She had to weigh up the pros and cons - risk a long time out this spring, or play it safe and maybe miss out on a medal in front of her home crowd.
- He later said: ‘You don't win gold medals by playing it safe.’
- The Academy surprised me last year with some genuinely unconventional choices, but I'm playing it safe here.

play a trick (or joke) on

Behave in a deceptive or teasing way towards.
she played a trick on me by not telling me what to expect
Example sentencesExamples
- Greg is a trendy, barefoot shrink, who plays a trick on his wife, in order to spice up their love life.
- Maybe someone's just playing a trick on me to freak me out.
- Maybe they were playing a joke on Heather, did you ever think of that?
- I stared at the arrow for a few moments, making sure that my eyes weren't playing a trick on me.
- October 31 is a time when children go around ‘trick or treating’ dressed as witches and ghosts and threatening to play a trick on those who do not give them sweets.
- Derek heard it too, I thought someone was playing a joke on us but there was no one there.
- It's got to be one of our friends playing a joke on us.'
- She said: ‘When I received the phone call saying that I had won the car, I hung up the phone on them because I thought it was someone playing a joke on me.’
- It doesn't matter, maybe he doesn't want to tell me his name or he was just playing a joke on me the whole time.
- Scriptwriter Ronan Bennett plays a trick on the audience.
- I was still kind of angry because I thought that maybe somebody was playing a trick on me, or something.
- Hey, maybe we can play a joke on Mom with something from the gift shop.
- It turns out to be Elaine, who was playing a joke on him.
- Mr White, from near Southampton, had been asleep on the sofa when they decided to play a joke on him.
- In Peter's last class, he decided to play a joke on the students by saying that they had an oral exam.
- This time, I decided to play a joke on my parents.
- Are you sure it's not someone playing a trick on you?
- She was hoping that maybe her mind was just playing a trick on her.
- ‘They're playing a joke on us,’ he shouted back.
- John is so astonished by his wife's behavior that he believes her to be mentally ill (after initially thinking she's playing a joke on him).
Synonyms
deceive, trick, play a trick on, hoax, dupe, take in, mislead, delude, hoodwink, bluff, beguile, gull, make a fool of, outwit

play with oneself

informal Masturbate.

play with fire

Take foolish risks.
an urge to play with fire made her provoke him
Example sentencesExamples
- Going out with a stepbrother is not illegal, but you're playing with fire here.
- United manager Ian McCall might be considered to be playing with fire.
- Now when it comes to technological advances I have no problem, however when it involves messing with a biological system such as our bodies I believe we are playing with fire.
- We are playing with fire if we allow such technologies and products, without knowing how to deal with the consequences.
- Roeder's attempt to ignite his team's season with a player who has courted controversy at almost every turn was described by critics as playing with fire.
- If that is the First Minister's game he may be playing with fire.
- Pretending under age sex does not happen or imposing out-of-touch morals on those who are sexually active is playing with fire.
- By toying with this crisis the politicians are playing with fire.
- Adapting Schiller was playing with fire, and getting an opera based on his work on stage could be risky, in Italy above all.
- We're playing with fire when we make huge changes to a complex system that we don't understand, as we seem to be doing with the various substances we're pumping into our atmosphere.
Synonyms
run a risk, live dangerously, play with fire, sail close to the wind, risk it

played out

informal Used or seen too many times before so no longer interesting.
the melodrama is a little played out to be entirely satisfying
Synonyms
stale, hackneyed, well-worn, clichéd, stock, trite, banal, worn out, time-worn, threadbare, hoary, tired, overused, obsolete, antiquated, finished, old

Phrasal Verbs

play about (or around)

1Behave in a casual, foolish, or irresponsible way.
you shouldn't play around with a child's future
Example sentencesExamples
- Everyone knows that when scientists play around with genes, they screw up.
- It's that time of year again when parents are advised to keep a watch on their children to make sure they do not play around with fireworks.
- A lot of Christmas discs play around with the music we've grown to love over the years, but not enough try and make something unique enough to really stand out.
- Back in my days working at the Shake bar me and some of the other workers in the quiet time used to play around with the bottles.
- These investments of course may yet come good, but I suppose I just don't have that sort of disposable income to play around with.
- Instead of 64 mb of RAM, I've suddenly got 512 mbs to play around with.
- We can't play around with the future of our children.
- I'm fairly happy with the layout, but I think I might play around with the colour scheme over the next few days.
- I had quite a full weekend, although most of Saturday was spent playing about with the new DVD player.
- It is no longer possible to play around with identity politics.
1. 1.1informal (of a married person) have a love affair.
  was her husband playing around?
  Example sentencesExamples
  Our father was ‘playing around’, as my mother later explained it to us.
  You can't stop a married man from playing around, but when he takes a mistress and actually sets up a household, then he breaks the law.
  Synonyms
  womanize, philander, have affairs affair, have an affair, flirt, dally, toy with someone's affections, trifle with someone's affections

play along

1Perform a piece of music at the same time as it is playing on a tape or record.
I could make harmonies by playing along with the tape
Example sentencesExamples
- An accompanying CD provides the opportunity for students to play along.
- I'm one of those people who learned the guitar playing along to Beatles records and stuff…
- The guy living above just put on a Bjork record, which sounded nice up until he whipped out his saxophone and started playing along, totally out of key.
- Since then he has got his own junior drum kit and plays along to records by his favourite bands by ear.
- He's the I reason picked up a guitar and I learned by playing along to his records.
- To learn the drums, he tried playing along to records, a method he admitted hating.
- When the band got serious, he decided to learn the bass his grandfather had bought him for Christmas, playing along to songs by Blur and the Jackson 5.
- His typical early evening entertainment involves putting on a tape of some unidentifiable rock music and playing along to it.
- I used to stand in the window at quiet times listening to the records and trying to play along to them on the Moog synthesizer they had in the shop.
- I'm not one for attacking musicians for playing along to backing tracks.
1. 1.1Pretend to cooperate.
  she had to play along and be polite
  Example sentencesExamples
  I didn't want to play along with her stupid mind games anymore.
  Nicky, of course, was perfectly happy to play along with this.
  I have no desire to play along with Kelly's little machinations.
  When Sascha first told me he was a neuropsychologist, I thought he was joking, so I decided to play along with it and told him I was a nurse.
  At first she started to play along with him to calm him down, suggesting things.
  I'm dying to scream the truth out to everyone from the roof tops, yet I know I'll play along with this ridiculous charade.
  He took that opportunity to give Daphne a little wink to let her know that he would play along with whatever she decided to do.
  He now claims that he knew all the time that it was a sting and was just playing along, giving the reporters what they wanted in order to extract more information about their motives and identities.
  I figured I could play along with the ‘just friends’ bit, then ply him with alcohol and take advantage of him.
  Apparently the Germans played along in order to win time to reinforce their forces in Italy.
  Synonyms
  cooperate, collaborate, play along, play the game, go along with the plan, show willing, be willing, help, lend a hand, assist, be of assistance, contribute, reciprocate, respond

play someone along

Deceive or mislead someone over a period of time.
he'd play her along till she got fed up
Example sentencesExamples
- I had no idea what I was doing, just that I had to play him along and find us a way out of this.
- Jackie Lye as Gill the good time girl playing Mark along is certainly lust on legs and captures this temptress perfectly.
- Rather than telling the ‘buyer’ to take a running jump, Jeff decided to play him along while at the same time complaining about his actions to eBay.

play away

1Play a sports fixture on an opponent's ground.
Example sentencesExamples
- I believe the team can raise their game by at least another 20 percent and even though we are playing away we can win this final.
- In a ground share, the standard arrangement is that, on a given weekend, one team plays at home while the other plays away.
- On Sunday Oaks played away to rivals Long Lee and lost 1-0 despite being on top for most of the game.
- In short, nobody wants to play away to New Zealand.
- Crooks added: ‘Barnsley are on a good run but they'll know how well we play away and will be a bit worried.’
- We want to perform in front of our own fans instead of reserving the best for when we play away, and Bath need the win to claw themselves away from the relegation zone.
- The professional clubs come in at the third round and this time it will be an open draw, with the amateurs not having to play away.
- Friday rugby would also give our staff a proper weekend break and that would be appreciated by the players who, when we play away on a Sunday, have no time at all with their families.
- In France, if there is more than one division between the teams drawn together, the higher team plays away as a handicap.
- When you play away you expect the home team to start off the better of the two sides.
1. 1.1informal (of a married person) have a love affair.
  Example sentencesExamples
  If you can live with that (and without your current BF when he finds out), play away!
  With fame and wealth come more opportunities to play away, but it is selfish to believe that only the players feel lonely.
  I'm amazed the number of my married women friends who've played away since their fifties.
  Lowly Wigan's problems mount - they are like the cheating husband who gets his kicks by playing away!
  A one-night stand cost him an estimated stg £100m when his wife, Pamela, found out that he had been playing away from home.
  I was married with a little boy by now but my wife fell in love with someone else and I was playing away.

play something back

Play sounds that one has recently recorded, especially to monitor recording quality.
I did a lot of recording and then played it back
Example sentencesExamples
- The next time you're out with a group of friends, obtain permission to record casual conversation for 30 minutes and then play it back.
- Fortunately I recorded the breakfast show trail so I could play it back when we'd finished, and in all honesty I think it's the best one I've done so far.
- The comments were only noticed after the official Press briefing, when the recordings were played back.
- Digital photos can be played back in a slide show, complete with a soundtrack compiled from the music library.
- They don't do it live, he records it then plays it back a few minutes later.
- Mike played the tape back and the song sounded awesome.
- I handed him a list of questions that I had prepared and promised him that we could record the interview, play it back, and if he did not like it we would scrap it.
- We tried to record the call so we could play it back on air, but could only capture my half of the conversation, which was no good.
- The ability to record musical performances and play them back at any time was, during the 20th century, the principal force spreading music and its appreciation to an ever-wider public.
- After recording one track, you can play it back while recording another.

play something down

Represent something as being less important than it in fact is.
he tried to play down the seriousness of his illness
Example sentencesExamples
- But Det Supt Higgins yesterday played his role down, saying he could never have done it without the extraordinary dedication of a team of officers.
- We are in a substantial and serious crisis and both the government and the media are playing it down.
- Within the corridors of parliament last week, many opposition MSPs had begun playing the affair down.
- We are definitely playing this win down - it's easy for the supporters to get carried away but we have to take certain things into account.
- But the risk is played down by the government body meant to ensure that our food is safe, the Food Standards Agency.
- As much as she plays it down, not wishing to ‘romanticise’ it, her home life must have been a rich source of inspiration.
- Not surprisingly, this whole episode was played down by the press.
- However, the Scottish Executive were playing the possibility down.
- Sharon plays it down, insisting it'll be a small affair.
- If Torrance made any significant contribution to his son's tactical thinking he is playing it down.
Synonyms
make light of, make little of, make nothing of, set little store by, set no store by, gloss over, de-emphasize, underemphasize, downplay, understate, underplay, minimize, shrug off

play someone off

Bring people into conflict or competition for one's own advantage.
top footballers were able to play clubs off against each other to gain higher pay
Example sentencesExamples
- ‘Eamon believed that Today FM were trying to play him off against Bird as a way of keeping down the size of his salary,’ said one station insider.
- Confronted by this evidence of disunity among his enemies, Charles took the understandable but risky course of playing them off against each other.
- The British government is effectively abdicating IT strategy to the major players and confining itself to attempts to play them off against one another in order to obtain lower prices.
- Meanwhile we have a Government that is effectively responding by playing them off each other promising much and delivering very little.
- To prevent workers from taking a unified stance against management, the latter tries to split its workers into groups and to play them off against one another.
- Give them the information they need and then play them off against each other until the sum you're being offered is a fair approximation of what you want to receive.
- He left the running of the country to his deputies, playing them off against each other, intervening only to reassert his authority.
- That way, the buyers could not play us off against each other.
- It's divide-and-rule, playing us off in a grim bidding war of who will work for the least money.
- Don't let the property developers play us off against each other.

play off

(of two teams or competitors) play an extra match to decide a draw or tie.
the top two teams would play off at Twickenham
Example sentencesExamples
- The third and fourth place teams also played off, with the loser eliminated and the winner playing the loser of the one versus two game.
- The top four teams will play off for the premier division title with the bottom four playing for the First Division title.
- The four provincial champions will qualify for the quarter-finals with the defeated teams playing off for the other four places.
- The winners of their respective matches will contest the final, while the losers will play off for the bronze medal.
- The section winners will play off to decide the overall champions in a championship tournament on April 1.
- In the event of both teams finishing level they play off with each pairing playing a single game.
- The top team in each of the two groups go directly to the semi-finals, with the next two teams in each pool playing off for the remaining spots in the last four.
- These two teams played off a couple of weeks ago at the same ground, and Port won handsomely as they dominated North Ballarat all over the ground.
- Sadly, aggregate scores counted for nothing in those days, and having won and lost a leg apiece, the teams played off.
- Division B teams would be playing off for the right to go up to Division A at the expense of the worst performed team in Division A.

play on

Exploit (a weak or vulnerable point in someone)
he played on his opponent's nerves
Example sentencesExamples
- It is true that much of the humour plays on cultural differences but this is done without ever becoming too crude or crass.
- Any politician who plays on race is a danger to the country and should never be allowed to run in any public office.
- The artist creates this discomfort and plays on it, usurping expectations.
- All this from a fear that is not well articulated and plays on the emotive issue of terrorism.
- The idealism of childhood is further perpetuated by the advertising industry that plays on our nostalgia for a time when everything came easily.
- It plays on the fact that there is nothing else up there and you'll probably be desperate for something to eat, or at least to drink.
- The council has played on the emotions of these people and their relatives.
- We laugh because it plays on our deep anxieties about our own sexuality.
- These stories always appear to have been made up by newspapers seeking sales by playing on people's fears.
- Any company that asks for large amounts of money or plays on people's greed or fears should be immediately suspect.
Synonyms
exploit, take advantage of, use, make use of, turn to account, turn to one's account, profit by, capitalize on, impose on, trade on, milk, abuse, misuse

play out

1Develop in a particular way.
the position of the sub-tropical jet stream across North America will determine how winter plays out
Example sentencesExamples
- The following exchanges with both teams seemingly quiet happy to play out the remainder of the game for a share of the points.
- It's not yet clear how his fate will play out.
- A similar scenario had previously been played out for the antioxidant vitamin carotene.
- Negotiations are ongoing, we'll have to see how they play out.
- Fans are actually helping decide how one of the storylines is going to play out.
- Thankfully, all the character machinations (no pun intended) play out well.
- I think obviously the senatorial process has got to play out.
- Allen said the current code could allow an institution to recuperate some losses in revenue for whatever plays out.
- The legal wrangle is yet to play out in the courts.
- We've had decades to watch the digital revolution play out.
Synonyms
turn out, work out, conclude, end, end up, result, come out, fall out, develop, evolve
2Happen; take place.
this scenario plays out all across the country
Example sentencesExamples
- Wild Life plays out like a memory, in short pieces linked by a peculiar dream-like logic.
- Exactly the same phenomenon has played out over a longer period in agriculture.
- I think that's sort of what we're hearing playing out behind us right now.
- The joke plays out the full ramifications of the power of the male gaze in objectifying women.
- The second race of the day was played out in very different conditions to the first.
- They do however impart an added level of mayhem you can inflict on the Federation, all of which plays out nicely on screen.
- Are we too far gone to make a difference in the way the rest of this election plays out on the streets.
- I was really struck by the way the climatic gunfight played out in the movie.
- We're going to look at how it will play out today in Virginia.
- You're going to be surprised to find out where it's playing out.
Synonyms
happen, occur, take place, come about, come to pass, crop up, turn up, arise, chance, ensue, befall, be realized, take shape, transpire

play someone out

Drain someone of strength or life.
she was played out, too exhausted even to weep
Example sentencesExamples
- There was a sense that I was played out, I was finished.
- There was nowhere else I could go. I was played out.
- By this time I was played out and so were Beck and Nora.

play something out

Act the whole of a drama; enact a scene or role.
they were playing out a familiar scenario
Example sentencesExamples
- The saga was played out all this week in the Spanish newspapers.
- It goes without saying that one sees the full range of human emotion - great life and death dramas are played out before one's eyes.
- The little church has seen hundred of years pass by and lives long forgotten have played their dramas out around it.
- Is landscape just merely the indifferent background scene on which our lives are played out or it is integral to who we are and how we feel?
- Not surprisingly, due to his fame, the whole scenario was played out in the papers.
- It does, however, offer a far closer insight into the reality of justice, as it is played out every day in our courts, than anything most ordinary people will ever see.
- On 21st November, 1953, the final scene in the saga was played out.
- Similar scenes have been played out thousands and thousands of times around the country.
- Supplemented with archive material that showed how the drama was played out on local TV, it makes compelling viewing.
- Such scenes are played out across the whole of Britain with a fair degree of regularity, though they remain relatively rare north of the border.
- It is just that, here, all life's dramas are played out in front of the most spectacular backdrop you could hope to find.
Synonyms
portray, represent, depict, characterize, describe, present
happen, occur, take place, come about, come to pass, crop up, turn up, arise, chance, ensue, befall, be realized, take shape, transpire

play up

1(of a child) misbehave.
I hadn't had much sleep—the kids had been playing up
Synonyms
misbehave, be misbehaved, behave badly, be bad, be naughty, be mischievous, get up to mischief, be disobedient, be awkward, cause trouble, give trouble, make trouble
1. 1.1Fail to function properly.
  his phone line was constantly playing up
  Example sentencesExamples
  The hamstring wasn't too bad but my knee was playing up a little bit.
  Then our bathroom's ageing cistern started to play up, so I made a quick phone call to our reasonable and reliable plumber.
  The dishwasher's playing up, but it should be all right by the time we open.
  It was just my thigh playing up again and they want me to play again next week.
  My computer's been playing up a fair bit lately and this morning the screen just completely faded out.
  However, if the Irishman's troublesome hamstring plays up, Reardon could be switched to his favoured right-wing spot.
  Synonyms
  not work properly, be defective, be faulty, malfunction, act up, give trouble
  be painful, hurt, ache, be sore, cause pain, cause discomfort, cause trouble, annoy
2Put all one's energy into a game.
the captain told his team to play up
Example sentencesExamples
- Insofar as basketball is concerned, if he is already playing up, teach him the game as you would the older players.

play someone up

(of a part of the body or an illness) cause pain or discomfort to someone.
my rheumatism's playing me up
Example sentencesExamples
- After all this pressing of numbers my fingers were playing me up as I am well past retirement age.
- My knee is still playing me up and I'm still walking with a limp.
- Gus never said anything; he carried on driving, but wondered if his sciatica was playing him up.
- He'd deliberately eaten little in the hours before, so it wouldn't play him up.
- Peering over the top of her horn rimmed glasses with suspicion, Rose wheezed, ‘Oh my aching bones are playing me up something chronic today!’
- Now in his fifties, and prone to limp if his arthritis was playing him up, he was grateful for the chance to end his working life here.
- Oh I'm fine, a bit tired - Roger's back is still playing him up.
Synonyms
be painful, hurt, ache, be sore, cause pain, cause discomfort, cause trouble, annoy

play something up

Emphasize the extent or importance of something.
the mystery surrounding his death was played up by the media
Example sentencesExamples
- Fianna Fáil were wary of playing up their chances.
- Fearful of being accused of complacency, they fail to allay public fears and often play up hypothetical risks.
- His warnings were unheeded, and, as he predicted, Republicans played the issue up in the final weeks of the campaign.
- The government is playing up the great energy savings these regulations will provide and selling the new laws as a ‘win’ to the environment.
- They played up fears of juvenile crime and welfare dependency, but failed to challenge the belief that mothers worked only out of financial necessity.
- Predictions of 450,000 lost jobs are played up in the media, while the jobs that will be created to combat global warming are ignored.
- She took it much worse than I did, though I played it up for the girls a bit when they came around to coddle me.
- We certainly play that fact up whenever we've got an award-winning book.
- While even the most diehard Celtic fan will find it difficult to muster up excitement, Sky are still trying to play the match up as if it's Judgement Day itself.
- Now governments can get more support by playing the threat up and issuing constant warnings.
Synonyms
emphasize, lay emphasis on, put emphasis on, accentuate, bring attention to, call attention to, draw attention to, focus attention on, point up, underline, underscore, highlight, spotlight, foreground, feature, give prominence to, bring to the fore, heighten, stress, accent

play up to

Exploit, trade on, or make the most of.
Example sentencesExamples
- He's also a mass of contradictions, desperately playing up to more successful ex-schoolmates and then verbally and physically assaulting them.
- When every major presidential candidate contributes to a candidate or plays up to a labor activist in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina, that makes it possible for the recipients of this attention to choose relatively freely.
Synonyms
ingratiate oneself with, seek the favour of, try to get on the good side of, curry favour with, court, fawn on, fawn over, make up to, keep someone sweet, toady to, crawl to, grovel to, pander to, be obsequious towards, truckle to, flatter

Origin

Old English pleg(i)an 'to exercise', plega 'brisk movement', related to Middle Dutch pleien 'leap for joy, dance'.

In Old English plegan or plegian meant ‘to exercise’, while plega meant ‘brisk movement or activity’, and could also be used to describe a dramatic performance on stage. These are the first uses of play. Today terms such as swordplay and gunplay preserve the old ‘brisk movement’ sense of the noun. To play with fire is to take foolish risks with something potentially dangerous. The proverb if you play with fire you get burned dates from the late 19th century, though a similar sentiment is expressed by the poet Henry Vaughan in 1655: ‘I played with fire, did counsel spurn…But never thought that fire would burn / Or that a soul could ache.’ Play it again, Sam is a popular misquotation from the film Casablanca (1942). Although these precise words are never actually spoken in the film, Humphrey Bogart does say ‘If she can stand it, I can. Play it!’, and earlier in the film Ingrid Bergman says ‘Play it, Sam. Play “As Time Goes By”.’ The US magazine Playboy was founded in 1953 by Hugh Hefner. A playboy was at first, back in 1616, a boy actor. The modern sense, ‘an irresponsible pleasure-seeking man’, started in Ireland, and is first recorded in the 1820s.

Rhymes

affray, agley, aka, allay, Angers, A-OK, appellation contrôlée, array, assay, astray, au fait, auto-da-fé, away, aweigh, aye, bay, belay, betray, bey, Bombay, Bordet, boulevardier, bouquet, brae, bray, café au lait, Carné, cassoulet, Cathay, chassé, chevet, chez, chiné, clay, convey, Cray, crème brûlée, crudités, cuvée, cy-pres, day, decay, deejay, dégagé, distinguée, downplay, dray, Dufay, Dushanbe, eh, embay, engagé, essay, everyday, faraway, fay, fey, flay, fray, Frey, fromage frais, gainsay, Gaye, Genet, giclee, gilet, glissé, gray, grey, halfway, hay, heigh, hey, hooray, Hubei, Hué, hurray, inveigh, jay, jeunesse dorée, José, Kay, Kaye, Klee, Kray, Lae, lay, lei, Littré, Lough Neagh, lwei, Mae, maguey, Malay, Mallarmé, Mandalay, Marseilles, may, midday, midway, mislay, misplay, Monterrey, Na-Dene, nay, né, née, neigh, Ney, noway, obey, O'Dea, okay, olé, outlay, outplay, outstay, outweigh, oyez, part-way, pay, Pei, per se, pince-nez, portray, pray, prey, purvey, qua, Quai d'Orsay, Rae, rangé, ray, re, reflet, relevé, roman-à-clef, Santa Fé, say, sei, Shar Pei, shay, slay, sleigh, sley, spae, spay, Spey, splay, spray, stay, straightaway, straightway, strathspey, stray, Sui, survey, sway, Taipei, Tay, they, today, tokay, Torbay, Tournai, trait, tray, trey, two-way, ukiyo-e, underlay, way, waylay, Wei, weigh, wey, Whangarei, whey, yea

Definition of play in US English:

play

verbpleɪplā

1no object Engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.
the children were playing outside
her friends were playing with their dolls
Example sentencesExamples
- Do you know who your children are playing with or where they are playing?
- Let her use up her energy by playing outside every day and enjoying other lively activities.
- I want to lie on the couch reading the paper on a Sunday morning with my children playing around me and my husband's hand in mine.
- He said the two were playing when the accused boy picked up the stone and hit his friend in the stomach.
- In the evenings, she plays outside with her friends.
- He has above average reading skills, he's a happy child and plays with his friends in the evenings.
- He says this causes a range of problems, such as discouraging residents from walking to shops or children playing in the street.
- The boys played together on the nearby hills and fished and swam in the local loch.
- After lunch the kids were sent out to play, the women-folk took the dishes off to the kitchen and the men flopped in front of the TV.
- The drama happened when the boys, one celebrating his birthday, were playing at an isolated spot by the river near Pottery Lane.
- Officials are advising the public to prevent their children or dogs from playing on or near the edges of the canal.
- Children can feed, touch and play with the animals during free public tours led by park rangers.
- She sees other children playing happily, mothers lavishing care on children, but no one plays with her.
- He needs a stick to walk and finds playing with his son Alex, aged four, difficult.
- If it was warm we played outside on the grass, which was so different to our cobbled streets at home.
- Last week Cromane Beach was a hive of activity with children playing, swimming and enjoying picnics.
- They fell into silence, watching their children play together.
- Ms Baulland was sitting on a bench near the grass area where the boys were playing.
- We didn't see that much of them, even from the beginning, though the children played together a lot.
- Mr Byrne came out of his house and took the football to stop the boys playing.
Synonyms
amuse oneself, entertain oneself, enjoy oneself, have fun, have a good time, relax, rest, be at leisure, occupy oneself, divert oneself, play games, frolic, frisk, gambol, romp, cavort, caper
1. 1.1with object Engage in (a game or activity) for enjoyment.
  I want to play Monopoly
  Example sentencesExamples
  He sat down next to me as though he'd never been away, and we played cards and had a few beers - a lot of beers, to be honest.
  She said: ‘I have been playing Scrabble for 14 years and I love the variety and challenge of it.’
  After dinner that night we played cards for a while.
  The poor creatures aren't even allowed to play conkers at school any more.
  It was unlikely I was going to find Adie playing Space Invaders at such an unearthly hour, but it was worth a try.
  When you play Monopoly with your family, there are rules that you enforce and rules that you probably don't.
  I've been playing Mario world all day, and am going to have another shot at it today.
  As such, the games were quite fun to play, despite their rather basic gameplay.
  Remember when you were a kid playing poker on your kitchen table for pennies?
  Armed with copies of the morning newspapers and flasks of coffee and dressed in their civvies, they chatted, or played cards to pass the time.
  Those were the days of mini skirts and she would always seat herself across from me while we played cards.
  They also played board games like checkers, chess, and dominoes.
  Too much emphasis is placed on solitary activities such as playing video games or watching television.
  The other girls would tiptoe down the hall and peek in on them, watching as they played cards and draughts.
  Out on the town we played Space Invaders or PacMan down at our local video parlour.
  Synonyms
  take part in, participate in, engage in, be involved in, join in, compete in, do
2. 1.2 Amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretense.
  the boys were playing cops and robbers
  Example sentencesExamples
  I waiting impatiently for the bell to ring so I could run out to meet my friends at the playground and play cops and robbers.
  As a boy, I used to play cowboys and Indians all the time.
  It is like little boys and girls playing doctors and nurses.
  As a child, she had played at being a gun-toting cowgirl.
  In summer we played shop in back yards or gardens, or hopscotch on the pavements.
  It was all a game, like playing at shops; but unknowingly, I was learning the value of money.
  My children don't play with guns, but at lunchtime some were playing at shooting each other.
3. 1.3play at Engage in without proper seriousness or understanding.
  stars who play at being ordinary
  Example sentencesExamples
  I mean, they were just playing at it before, but now they're completely serious.
  But they were playing at being villains, like in the movies.
  So that she could play at being a countrywoman at Versailles, Louis XV provided her with a hermitage comprising a pavilion, a menagerie, a pasture, dairy and kitchen garden.
  Their conformity to the tenets of a philosophy that was supposed to be about non-conformity, suggests that, deep down, they were were playing at it.
  Lemar doesn't actually seem to know they're just playing at being in love with each other.
  Synonyms
  pretend to be, give the appearance of, affect the role of, assume the role of, pass oneself off as, masquerade as, profess to be, pose as, impersonate, make out, fake, feign, simulate, affect, go through the motions of
4. 1.4play with Treat inconsiderately for one's own amusement.
  she likes to play with people's emotions
  Example sentencesExamples
  And I don't really think Jen is playing with Josh's feelings, I think she's just as confused as she sounds.
  She should have known that Eddie was just playing with her heart like everyone else he flirted with.
  Do you think I've just been playing with your emotions this last fortnight?
  No-one would exploit real people and play with their emotions and date them just for a piece of art.
  Synonyms
  take advantage of, impose on, exploit, make use of, use, abuse, misuse, manipulate, take liberties with, trifle with, play with
5. 1.5play with Fiddle or tamper with.
  has somebody been playing with the thermostat?
  Example sentencesExamples
  He peeled himself away from the shadows and walked over to us, idly playing with his sword.
  Elizabeth played with one of the flowers in her basket as they walked in silence.
  Her salad was whisked away and she moved onto playing with the noodles in her pasta.
  He plays with his hands as we sit down at the Toronto International Film Festival to discuss his latest project.
  His eyes wander evasively, he plays with his cigar and glances round a supposed movie studio that is nothing more than a shoddy mock-up.
  She had stopped eating and was just playing with her pasta, pushing it around the plate with her fork.
  Sarah plays with her food with her fork, picking out the chocolate chips and making a pile of them at the side of her plate.
  Julie walked over and sat down next to her, playing with the cuffs of her sweatshirt.
  For the next 15 minutes Vanessa picked at her nails as Isabel played with her hair.
  Cable tidies will help prevent children from tripping over cables and playing with them.
  Synonyms
  handle, hold, pick up, move
2with object Take part in (a sport)
I play softball and tennis
Example sentencesExamples
- He had previously played football with Sutton United and liked to watch snooker as well.
- If Darryl Berry played any other sport but golf, he would probably earn a living from it.
- Christopher also plays ice hockey for Hull, and he is a defenceman in both sports.
- I loved playing international cricket, the tours, the thrill of it.
- I used to play netball when I was a teenager, but was never very good at it.
- If you can swim you can go swimming, canoeing, diving, play water polo or do aqua fitness sports such as aquarobics.
- He was active in sport in his youth and played both hockey and badminton.
- He also played hockey with distinction and represented Sri Lanka in this sport.
- The majority of Australian umpires have played cricket at a relatively low level or not at all.
- She is a fine athlete and has played volleyball and basketball for her school.
- Playing football is all I want to do and playing football in England is perfect for me.
- Ginny played beach volleyball with the local high school students and learned how to surf.
- Another new initiative was launched this week to get more children playing sport.
- I love the game and played club cricket poorly until age and sloth took over.
- There's a lot of people that want to play sport but do not want to get into an aggressive sport.
- The Manchester United winger said: ‘I dislocated my jaw in the summer and I have not been allowed me to play any contact sport up until now.’
- We just had to prove we played basketball better than the rest of the world.
- He enjoyed many sports, and played table tennis for Manchester and tennis for Manchester University.
- I'm a 25-year-old single bloke who plays international cricket and tours the world.
- As a young man he loved sport, playing baseball, football and hockey.
Synonyms
take part in, participate in, engage in, be involved in, join in, compete in, do
1. 2.1 Participate in (an athletic match or contest)
  the Red Sox will play two games on Wednesday
  Example sentencesExamples
  Yet it was difficult not to feel sorry for Latvia, playing their first match in a major tournament.
  The surgery invigorated him so much that in his first year of retirement he played up to three rounds of golf per week.
  From start to finish, the 40-over contest was played under leaden skies and falling rain.
  In September to mid November, the training program will reach its peak with the bowlers expected to play up to 75 games.
  Omagh were forced to play three championship matches in eight days in October.
  The country's hockey team is currently playing a series of matches in Spain.
  I was really hoping for a win but we played well and we are going in the right direction.
  He has height and pace and is rated highly by the England management, but has not played a championship match since June.
  In the end the match was played amid a torrential downpour, plus thunder and lightning.
  In Barcelona the players will be playing at least five games
  So, in an eventful year, he played nine tournaments, won six of them and came runner-up in two.
  One feature common to all great teams is the ability to win when playing badly.
  The game will be played under floodlights, kicking off at 3pm.
  Kanoute looked as if he hadn't played a football match all season.
  He plays to win; that's why he is the great golfer he is.
  When United last played a semi-final in Manchester in 1998 there were two nights of trouble in the city.
  However, despite playing rather poorly, they dug in and achieved an unlikely victory.
  Chelsea's Claude Makelele has hinted he may have played his last match for France.
  Cork and Galway have played nine championship games between them.
  Before the new season Rovers will play up to eight friendlies, including games against Premier League teams Hearts and St Mirren.
  The match was played in a very sporting spirit and both teams are to be complimented for this.
  The competition was played over three days on two of the best golf courses in Cyprus.
  We would rather play as many games as possible against top notch teams.
  Synonyms
  take part in, participate in, engage in, be involved in, join in, compete in, do
2. 2.2 Compete against (another player or team) in an athletic match or contest.
  the team will play France on Wednesday
  Example sentencesExamples
  At times you have to chop and change, particularly when you are playing good teams.
  My team plays his about 3 times a year, and every game is a barn burner and we take turns winning.
  In this instance, the fact that they will be playing a team they know very little about could work to their disadvantage.
  The only problem is that we are playing a top side away from home and that makes it even more difficult to get a result.
  We may just get a bit tense, and that comes down to inexperience, playing the best team in the world.
  It is very rare that the defending champions play the team they wrested the trophy from in a World Cup finals.
  We organised a staff volleyball team to play the senior team last week and we beat them!
  He plays a qualifier in the first round but must then get past two-time semi-finalist Todd Martin.
  It is never easy playing a team that is fighting relegation and has had two bad results on the spin.
  Horgan, Johns and Ward drop to the bench and Murphy has been relegated to the A team which plays South Africa in Limerick tonight.
  We traveled to different bowling centers, played different teams, and it was a lot of fun.
  We had a loss to Italy and we came right back and played the home team Germany.
  In the Test matches, we are playing the second-ranked team in the world so that's very difficult in itself.
  So Keighley were playing a team made up of a mixture of second and third players.
  We need to be able to play these big teams and stay composed and hold onto the ball.
  This division of parental loyalties has made it such that in sporting contests when England plays Germany, he is unsure of whom to barrack for.
  The tournament is played on a round robin basis, with each team playing every other team.
  Team USA plays China today, and Mendoza can hardly believe she is part of this.
  Apparently the International Rugby Board think it's a good idea to have France play Ireland in Paris on Feb 14th.
  He is the only new cap in the team which plays Bangladesh in the opening Test of a two-Test series at Buffalo Park tomorrow.
  Synonyms
  compete against, contend against, oppose, take on, challenge, vie with, rival
3. 2.3informal no object, usually with negative Be cooperative.
  he needs financial backing, but the bank won't play
  Example sentencesExamples
  The media got another warning from the White House this week: be careful what you do and say, or we won't play.
  If the lawyers had approved the meetings and then FBI had refused to play, the buck would have been passed to the Bureau.
  Synonyms
  cooperate, collaborate, play along, play the game, go along with the plan, show willing, be willing, help, lend a hand, assist, be of assistance, contribute, reciprocate, respond
4. 2.4no object Be part of a team, especially in a specified position, in a game.
  he played shortstop
  Example sentencesExamples
  Both are Manchester United supporters who dream of playing at Old Trafford one day.
  Juan Sebastian Veron is not the first member of his family to play for an English league team.
  Would he rather be playing for a more fashionable club, one at which it is easier to gain international selection?
  The boy has been playing for the Under- 18s this season, with just a couple of reserve starts.
  He was a lovely kid and he's gone on to play for Northern Ireland and Wimbledon.
  He also played in goal on the college team that won the Munster junior championship in 1994.
  He is 30 next month and might not have many more opportunities to play for England.
  Now, because they have seen how I play for the national team, they have a new respect for British football.
  Peter Crouch comes on for Owen - if he gets booked, England will only have Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott to play up front in their quarter-final against Germany.
  Edilson played up front in place of the suspended Ronaldinho.
  He plays at right-back or right wing-back, but he can also be played upfront.
  Chopra may have been a revelation to many but not to those who have watched him play for his club or state.
  It obviously did the trick, because I became a regular in the first team and went on to play for England.
  The ultimate goal is to play for Scotland, but there are lots of things before that.
  More than anything, and certainly more than money, he wanted to play for England.
  He joined the national team and plays on behalf of his adopted country.
  He plays on the wing, but it was at fullback where he found his twinkling feet.
  He now has it written into his club contract that he plays at No 10, and since he has enjoyed that continuity he has played very well indeed.
  Not only that, but he was asked to play in midfield rather than his usual central defensive position.
  It is important to have players in the England team who play regularly together at club level.
5. 2.5 Strike (a ball) or execute (a stroke) in a game.
  Example sentencesExamples
  They got stuck into us, they played the ball forward all the time.
  Their right winger got past two of our defenders and played the ball into out box.
  James Keddy played the ball down the left wing for Robbie Doyle.
  The one consistent complaint about his batting is that he tries to play far too many shots.
  He is more in tune with what the coaches want, and he's playing the ball much better.
  After tea Peterson and Kreusch batted carefully, taking the singles and playing each ball on its merit.
  Emre plays a cross-field ball from left to right.
  Brian Dunne played a good ball up the right wing to Gino O'Boyle and he crossed into the box where John Conlon got between two defenders to head home.
  He missed a challenge and the ball was played through to the unmarked Karl Smith.
  Our batsmen played too many shots square of the wicket off the new ball.
  Ultimately, it will all boil down to how well and how frequently you play the ball with the middle of the bat.
  Trezeguet is caught marginally offside as Henry plays the ball through to him.
  They can play the ball up to the strikers, and not take too much risk going forward.
  He went back to the tee to play a provisional ball but then he found his original ball and he played that.
  Steven Gerrard plays a long ball from left to right, which Luis Garcia fails to control properly and immediately gives away.
  Deep inside stoppage time, substitute Matt Woolf played the ball over Bremner, picking out Kempster on the left.
  Hargreaves plays the ball into Pizarro on the edge of the Celtic box.
  Ian Harte played the ball down the left to Alan Smith.
  However at 37 in the 11th over, Ramesh played an adventurous stroke and was bowled for 20.
  Every time Patrick got anywhere near the opposition box he would freeze and not know where to play the ball.
6. 2.6 Assign to take part in an athletic contest, especially in a specified position.
  the manager will want to play the right-handed Curtis
  Example sentencesExamples
  When I came back from injury earlier this season, the gaffer took a chance on me and played me up front against Dundee United.
  Crewe boss Dario Gradi elected to play his strongest side last night and was rewarded with a half-time lead courtesy of a Rob Hulse goal.
  Whether England manager Clive Woodward plays him at full-back, on the wing or even at centre on Saturday, he is a certain starter.
  The Giants were playing me out of position at second base, and the Pirates moved me back to third.
  He let it be known his complaint with Robson was that he was played out of position too often at Newcastle and it was affecting his England career.
  He's another natural goal scorer, but Stalybridge have played him in midfield where I think he is wasted.
  Woodward, desperate to get the best out of him, has played him in four positions.
  Each of these three managers will play their first choice eleven whenever they can.
  Perhaps he was wrong not to have played his chosen team before that game.
  Eriksson still has not worked out the best partnership to play up front.
  Advocaat tried playing him up front, but he only managed one goal in seven.
  He was played in the wrong position and did not do too well, but as soon as he moved up front he has got better and better.
  Dessie O'Malley, Dara Ainsworth, Daniel Fahy and Roger Clarke are all either injured or unavailable and manager Fergie McEllin may be forced to play midfielders up front.
  Playing him in that position helps us to play four bowlers and bat deeper down.
  Peru greatly altered their team selection and played a defender up front.
  Aliadiere would have started and I wanted to play front him up, but he was sick.
  Initially, he was played out of position at right-back.
  One alternative would be to play Danny up front if young Jon Cartledge settles at the back.
  At the moment, Fergie is experimenting with playing Scholes up front, just off the big striker, van Nistelrooy.
  The Indian tour selection committee played into their hands by playing just two fast bowlers.
7. 2.7 Move (a piece) or display (a playing card) in one's turn in a game.
  he played his queen
  Example sentencesExamples
  Upon playing a card, his opponent must lay down all of his cards of the same suit and the same rank.
  If you expose the queen of spades, then the first time that someone leads a spade you are not allowed to play the queen if you have other spades.
  Each player has a hand of six cards, and a turn consists of replenishing your hand to six and then playing a card.
  Note that the game very often ends in the middle before all the cards are played.
  Somebody always has to play the role of banker as well as playing their own piece.
  There may be cards left on the table after everyone has played their cards from the first deal.
  Then she played the last card currently in her hand, which was a 6 of Diamonds, by the way.
  Then, on each turn, everyone simultaneously plays a card from their hand.
  If you have the Ace of trump, you are guaranteed to win the trick you play that in.
8. 2.8 Bet or gamble at or on.
  he didn't play the ponies
  Example sentencesExamples
  Even if you're not into playing the ponies, the setting is marvelous and it's a superb place for a picnic.
  Another important factor in playing the lottery is to play within your means.
  I don't play the lotto and I avoid gambling at all costs.
  His happiness relies on a visit to the casino to play the slot machines.
  Mary is not a gambler, but she is very lucky when she plays on the slot machines.
  Advertised as a game, the online lottery is ‘played’ by buying a free slip over the counter, which allows the buyer to play up to six boards, each priced at Rs.10.
  The club now allows women to play bingo on Sunday afternoons, but it still won't make us full members.
  It was his first time at Fair Grounds but playing the ponies is nothing to new to him.
  The money people spend playing the lottery keeps some of these taxes from going up.
3with object Represent (a character) in a theatrical performance or a film.
she played Ophelia
Example sentencesExamples
- In Noyce's film, Michael Caine plays the aging, indolent British journalist Thomas Fowler.
- It's rather a relief to find that Langridge is nothing like most of the roles he plays on stage.
- Nhlanhla Lata, who began acting when he was 11, plays Michael, and Sam Mabona plays the stage manager.
- Hackman plays a wealthy lawyer who lives in Puerto Rico.
- He even appeared in movies, playing himself in For Those Who Think Young, a comedy about teenagers on Spring Break in Florida.
- But the main roles are all played by actors with little or no experience in westerns.
- In the film, John Huston plays an aging film director named Jake Hannaford in the declining years of his career.
- A devoted father in real life, here he is playing a young man who claims he has stayed in a loveless marriage for the sake of his child.
- Tom Hanks plays six characters in this new animated movie by Robert Zemeckis.
- Laurence Olivier plays Lord Nelson, and Vivien Leigh is Emma, Lady Hamilton, who becomes his lover.
- The contraceptive pill had been made available for the first time a year earlier, Harold Macmillan was Prime Minister and Sean Connery played James Bond for the first time.
- Laurence Olivier plays Crasius, the bisexual emperor, in this historical epic.
- So playing a Shakespearian character isn't too different, he tells Nick Curtis
- Holly Hunter plays the evil work colleague who encourages Murphy's paranoia.
- The Australian actor plays a woman who believes her dead husband has been reincarnated in the body of a 10-year-old boy.
- In my next film I'm playing a really intense character and I'm nervous.
- Connolly plays a fisherman living in Australia, whose boat is struck by lightning.
- He plays the central character, and you can tell that he relishes his scenes with Kingsley.
- He played Natalie Cole's manager in the made-for-TV movie based on the singer's life.
- He plays characters his age and doesn't try to pretend he's 20 years younger than he actually is.
Synonyms
act the part of, play the part of, act, take the role of, enact, represent, perform, appear as, portray, depict, impersonate, pretend to be, execute, render, interpret
1. 3.1no object Perform in a theatrical production or on film.
  he was proud to be playing opposite a famous actor
  Example sentencesExamples
  He has also played in Irish language productions at the Abbey Theatre.
  Taylor might as well have been playing opposite a wooden Indian for all the response she got from him.
  In The Silver Fleet, she plays opposite another star of the London stage, Ralph Richardson.
2. 3.2 Put on or take part in (a theatrical performance or concert)
  the show was one of the best we ever played
  Example sentencesExamples
  Their run came to a fitting climax last week when they played their final concert of the season to another full house.
  He played a concert at the hall where I worked before I came here.
  Hayes is due to play a concert at the House Of Blues in New Orleans tomorrow.
  Still, it could be a bit late to become interested in their music, since they've just played their last concerts.
  The Galway band continued to grow their fan base by playing gigs up and down the country, sometimes headlining, sometimes supporting.
  They will play a concert at Bolton's Albert Halls on Saturday before the orchestra.
  Jools Holland is playing an open-air concert near Tunbridge Wells soon.
  Bryan Ferry is in Auckland at the moment playing concerts tomorrow and Sunday.
  Robbie had always wanted to be the first British artist to play a concert in the new Wembley Stadium when it opens next summer.
  Retired John said: ‘Clare now lives in Bath but pops up to visit or stays with us when she's playing a concert up north.’
  Kissin plays around 40 concerts a year, which is one possible explanation for the fact that he never seems to tire of playing the piano.
  She will also play her first concert in Wales at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on July 30.
  The Rolling Stones played their debut concert at the Marquee club in London in 1962.
  Not only is he alive, but he's healthy, just short of 60 and still playing packed-out concerts.
  Waterford is never far from his heart, however, and he usually plays at least one gig in his home city.
  The Monkees played a post-game concert there after a Rapids match.
  The band recently played a concert at the Beacon Court Tavern in his home town of Gillingham.
  The Sligo trio have spoke several times of their burning desire to play a concert in their home town.
  As of this month, I've rejoined my old band as the drummer, and we'll be playing at least four shows in March.
  Shankar learned vocals from the age of two, violin from age five and played his first concert at seven.
  Synonyms
  put on, present, produce, give
3. 3.3 Give a dramatic performance at (a particular theater or place).
  Example sentencesExamples
  He was sheer magic at Garter Lane on his previous visit and should not be missed when he plays the Theatre Royal.
  Presumably he couldn't resist playing a home town gig on Good Friday, taking him home for the Easter hols.
  I've just tried booking tickets to see Kraftwerk, as I heard they were playing Brixton Academy on 20th March next year.
  It had been four years since Blur last played the capital, let us hope that the same amount of time does not have to elapse before the next batch of dates.
  He even found time to return to the US, playing venues down the East and West coast, from Boston to Los Angeles.
  A man who holds a special place in the Irish comic imagination, Brendan always brings the house down in venues he plays around the world.
  This is the National Theatre's touring production - if it plays anywhere near you, do not miss it.
  That line-up played Brixton Academy and a couple of other gigs until Mark left.
  The brilliant Backbeat Beatles play the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth on Monday.
  Next time they play their home town they deserve to be playing to a packed house.
  Then, at the end of the year, I'll be playing a few venues up and down the country, such as the Armadillo in Glasgow.
  The days of playing unglamorous locations like the South Morang Hotel are all over.
  Reynolds plays the Green Room Sunday night and the Railway Club on Wednesday.
  With another couple of live sets under their belts they played the Universe 2 party one year later.
  I know that I'm going to be playing New York for sure.
  I played some fantastic theatres and worked with some great people.
  Suzanne Vega plays the City Hall, Salisbury on 27 June.
  Having played both cities on numerous occasions, the differences are significant.
  Tonight he plays Glasgow for the first time in years, and I can't decide whether to go or not.
4. 3.4 Behave as though one were (a specified type of person)
  the skipper played the innocent, but smuggled goods were found on his vessel
  Example sentencesExamples
  But in the meantime John is more than happy to stay at home and play dad.
  As a young girl, Cora had always enjoyed playing the nurse for her brother or her cousins.
  Don't play the innocent with me, Gisela - you do this for your benefit as well as mine.
  She stood in the corner playing the shy bride in her long red bridal dress.
  A cynic would say that people enjoy playing the victim and jumping on the grief bandwagon, they enjoy the attention and the sympathy.
  His call for an early election was an attempt to play the hero again.
5. 3.5play someone for Treat someone as being of (a specified type)
  don't imagine you can play me for a fool
  Example sentencesExamples
  Someone had played me for a sucker and I was going to make sure he - or she - paid for it.
  Are you just playing Rob for a sucker, Amber?
  A councillor has accused a brewery of playing Bexley Council for a mug over a pub's opening hours.
  She plays him for a fool, often feigning helplessness just to see what lengths he will go to in order to prove his love for her.
  She and Bruce have been playing me for a fool since the beginning.
4with object Perform on (a musical instrument)
we heard someone playing a harmonica
no object a pianist who will play for us
Example sentencesExamples
- Their sons are still around a lot: Cameron, 22, a musician, is playing the piano when we arrive.
- There are certain dogs that sing whenever someone plays an accordion or a harmonica.
- While Natalie was calling my mom, I heard someone start playing the drums really loud.
- He was a keen musician and played the guitar in a local band.
- In the meantime May taught at a school by day and played guitar by night.
- Payne got his harmonica out and another guy was playing the piano.
- At a corner near the Peace Memorial, a group of musicians were playing the drums.
- So, when I saw that David Crosby and Graham Nash were playing at the new concert hall I just booked tickets, knowing my parents would want to come.
- Her professional singing career started when a night club owner insisted that she either sang while she played piano, or lost her job.
- She was greatly impressed when she heard Len playing his guitar, and even more impressed with how he could play the piano.
- The meal got off to a slightly odd note as a wandering band of minstrels invaded the restaurant and played accordion and guitar loudly.
- We seemed to like the same songs and besides, he played the guitar better than anyone else I knew.
- He loved to play his guitar and harmonica and listen to gospel and bluegrass music.
- By the summer they were playing at all the major festivals.
- Hannah was playing the piano and singing when she heard a voice behind her.
- On Friday night we went to see a friend's band playing at a local pub.
- A short distance away from us there was a grand piano being played softly by a woman in a green dress.
- Big doors open on to a plant-filled terrace where a jazz band plays on Saturday evenings.
- Sandra would sit there on her bed for hours singing songs and playing her guitar like no one could stop her.
- As a teenager he played guitar and harmonica with local bands and skiffle and rock ‘n’ roll groups.
1. 4.1 Possess the skill of performing on (a musical instrument)
  he taught himself to play the violin
  Example sentencesExamples
  He taught himself how to play the guitar, and Clapton's ballad was the first song he learned.
  It was Max's grandpa who taught him to play the accordion and speak some Russian.
  Justin s parents began to teach him how to play the piano and the flute when he was about eight years old.
  Mr McGovern has written almost 70 songs and taught himself to play the guitar at 18.
  His mother, a middle school guidance counselor, plays both clarinet and violin.
  As a young boy he played the flute, but later took up playing the violin.
  She has taught herself to play rhythm guitar and also plays piano and violin.
  Caleb has always had a passion for music and is learning to play the violin and bass guitar.
  Although singing or playing an instrument is a learned skill, it also is an art.
  I've been playing the piano and guitar since I was in the third grade and I turn 38 later this year.
  As well as playing the flute Rosie plays the piano, violin, guitar and sings.
  I have always begged Nick to teach me to play the guitar but every time he has an excuse not to.
  Billy is still playing two nights a week and he taught his eight children to play musical instruments.
  I bought him a little drum kit and guitar and he could play the piano from when he was a toddler.
  He plays the piano and French horn and teaches music to help pay his way through uni.
  Anxious for the boy's future, his father, William, taught him to play the piano from library books.
  You might want to learn a new skill such as painting or playing a musical instrument, or consider taking up a new sport such as fishing or golf.
  Franz learnt to play the piano and the violin from his father and brothers, and later the viola.
  Evora also plays the violin and performed in her high school's symphony for three years.
  David was a natural musician who taught himself to play the piano after watching a female pianist at his local pub.
  Synonyms
  perform on, make music on
2. 4.2 Produce (notes) from a musical instrument; perform (a piece of music)
  they played a violin sonata
  Example sentencesExamples
  A year later, she was playing the Bach Double Violin Concerto under Menuhin.
  Inconspicuously, a three piece ensemble plays background music.
  The group will play works by Mozart and Weber, and a selection of light classics.
  As we walked on stage for our first gig the crowd went wild - and we hadn't played a note.
  He plays Khachaturian's violin concerto next Friday in the opening concert of the NSO's national tour.
  They broke into spontaneous clapping, cheering and whistling when the Band of the Irish Guards played Happy Birthday for the Queen at the end of the parade as a surprise.
  You only have to listen to them play music and perform to see how good they are.
  They play the same pieces more than once in a season with different conductors.
  Colin Dean played some pieces on the organ, notably a fantasia by Farnaby.
  She sat down at the piano in front of her copy of the music and played a few random notes, humming along.
  The best pieces of American Jazz music will be played and performed on stage.
  This is a work for violin and piano, here played by Leopold Avakian and Mitchell Andrews.
  They shared a love of music and they would play violin sonatas together, Einstein on the violin and Born on piano.
  As part of the service, Mr Needham's favourite piece of music was played.
  The concertmaster played a note on his violin and Lev tuned his instrument to it.
  They will be playing music by Bradford-born Frederick Delius among other composers.
  Paddy, who is a noted musician, played a number of tunes on the violin and was in his usual good form.
  When you get there, a jazz group is quietly playing Scott Joplin to an appreciative audience lounging on the grass.
  Pupils played classical pieces as well as songs from films and shows.
  The first piece was played so quietly and sensitively that it clearly affected the huge audience.
3. 4.3 Make (a music player, disc, radio, etc.) produce sounds.
  Example sentencesExamples
  I mean nobody plays my records any more… I've got this single coming out right, and who's gonna play it?
  She plays a few tracks from Sao Vicente Di Longe, an album by a Cape Verde singer called Cesaria Evora.
  She spent half a day explaining The Beatles to me and playing me their music.
  A number of new tracks were also played, including the impressive Blonde Ambition.
  Write in to any radio stations you know of and demand that they play this record.
  Mr Warren said that it had been proposed to play the video without the sound.
  Others suggest that if a major artist did record a protest song, no US radio station would play it.
  They don't stay up all night playing rather loud music, and banging all the house doors.
  On the coach back we came down gently while listening to the cricket that the driver insisted on playing on the radio.
  I played the title track again and again, drugged up to the eyeballs on morphine.
  Local radio stations are also interested in playing her work, which Sam compares in style with that of Alanis Morissette.
  I am making a great big mental note to play this album an awful lot more than I normally do.
  They don't want the ice cream man in their neighborhood because the music he plays wakes up their kid.
  We can't even play the radio in our shop without the Peforming Rights Society wanting a royalty from it.
  By 9 pm, I had watched a dvd and played some records, and I was ready for something else.
  Sometimes, just every now and again they play a track I actually like.
  Still, I didn't really want to be there listening to the DJs playing records, I wanted to see the main act.
  And a third of adults use digital, satellite and cable TV to play the new radio stations.
  She could faintly hear the radio being played and Shawn humming to the beat.
  These re-enactments were videotaped and the videos were played in court.
  He insists on leaving one overcrowded ruin of an apartment building because another refugee plays his radio too loudly.
4. 4.4no object (of a musical instrument, music player, radio, etc.) produce sounds.
  somewhere within, a harp was playing
  Example sentencesExamples
  The National Anthem plays over the sound system.
  We then walked in silence to the studio, where the last record was still playing.
  The short-wave radio was playing a soft sound from the American Music Network.
  He pauses to savour the Kylie Minogue song playing over the bar sound system.
  Some kind of Indian stringed instrument is playing quietly over loudspeakers, adding a hint of exoticism.
  He tilts his head to one side, listening to music playing in the shop.
  He lights a cigarette, and as the song plays on the radio, he questions his life - Was his daddy right, is he wasting his life?
  He leaves the front door slightly ajar to hear the early Dylan and Stones records playing from inside.
  Bright Eyes was playing over the sound system and I felt much better, despite being soaked to the bone.
  The organ started playing as we entered, and the sound was truly heavenly.
  The jukebox is playing Jazz music and musical notes seem to be floating through the room.
5. 4.5 Accompany (someone) with music as they are moving in a specified direction.
  the bagpipes played them out of the dining room
  Example sentencesExamples
  The procession then moved on the Town Hall to be played in by a pianist performing the ‘Uist Tramping Song’.
  Brother James, would you play the girls in please?
5no object Move lightly and quickly, so as to appear and disappear; flicker.
a smile played about her lips
Example sentencesExamples
- Underneath the floppy hair and the trademark goatee, there is a smile playing on his lips, a twinkle in his eye.
- Alexandra's face held an innocent expression, a faint smile playing across her lips.
- Hope pulled back to look at him for a second, a soft smile playing across her lips.
- A small smile played across his lips as he saw her standing awkwardly by the door.
- Multicolored lights played over the audience, and a disco ball hung in the middle of the ceiling.
- A weak beam of light suddenly played round the bar, as Diane returned with a torch, and a lantern with a tea light.
- She stirred in her sleep at this, and he chuckled a little, his hand still playing lightly over her hair.
- I looked at Chris out of the corner of my eye and saw that he had a satisfied smile playing across his lips.
- But what was so cool was this little smile playing constantly on his lips, as though he was having a private joke inside his head.
- A grim smile played briefly on his lips and she knew she wasn't fooling him one bit.
- I peeked around the corner of the alleyway and spotted some shadows playing across the ground via the moonlight.
- A smile played across her lips as she thought of telling Randy she would be leaving soon.
- Pulling the door shut behind her, she leaned against it, a light smile playing across her lips.
- I stopped in front of our garden and Robert stopped as well, a smile playing upon his lips.
- She turned to her brother, who had a small smile playing across his lips.
- His soft babyish snores caused her heart to melt and a light smile played upon her lips.
- His eyes showed an active intelligence and a wry smile played across his lips.
- He shook his head, a tiny smile playing over his lips.
- The light from the torches played across her face as she drifted into slumber.
- The dim light of dawn played lightly on the morning dew which had gathered on the window glass over night.
Synonyms
move lightly, dance, flit, dart, ripple, lick, touch
1. 5.1 (of a fountain or similar source of water) emit a stream of gently moving water.
  Example sentencesExamples
  In the centre of the lush garden, an elaborate marble fountain played, spraying sparkling jewels of water into the air.
  The garden was beautiful, plants and shrubs tumbling around a vibrant lawn in the centre of which a fountain tinkled and played.
  The lawns are mown, the box hedge parterres are neatly clipped and the central fountain plays gently in the sunshine.
6with object Allow (a fish) to exhaust itself pulling against a line before reeling it in.
Example sentencesExamples
- Noel was very unlucky not to catch the larger pike as he had played the fish well.
- It wasn't long before a fish appeared and I soon was playing my second fish of the day.
- Remember the whole rod should be used in playing the fish.
- Holding the rod high whilst playing a fish is often a recipe for disaster, especially when the fish is close to the boat.
- We spotted that the boat nearest to us had an angler playing a fish and that same fish leapt right in front of our path.

nounpleɪplā

1Activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children.
a child at play may use a stick as an airplane
Example sentencesExamples
- I could see small disturbances on the water where schools of fish were at play.
- Their archive, now in the National Library, features many images of the little girls at play.
- The current school is in an extended house and has very small classrooms and little space for outdoor play for the children.
- The 2,000 parents surveyed said their children were losing the art of inventive, imaginative play.
- It elicits an almost nostalgic mood and has many fine shots of shops, pubs and children at play.
- A picnic area alongside is a great place to sit and relax whilst watching the animals at play.
- He certainly doesn't bring to mind the stuffy polo and shooting image of British royalty at play.
- The Artist's Studio provides an intimate portrait of him at work and at play.
- While at play, toddlers and young children are usually in the care of older siblings.
- Youngsters in a Bradford village are calling for more play activities to help cut vandalism.
- The Playstore is your best source for quality wooden and natural toys for creative and imaginative play.
- A person may prefer to work with an intense dedication that precludes recreation and play.
- In any case, children can learn a great many social skills by watching animals at play.
- Play areas, and the equipment in them, should be developed to encourage adventurous play.
- The children introduced themselves through song and words and we watched them at play.
- The sounds of children at play can be heard.
- In play, children create an imaginary situation in which rules of behaviour are formulated.
- There's a pause in the game, and the TV begins showing cute little kittens at play.
- You'll notice she still enjoys very active play and will love running around the playground or park.
- It was a peaceful, innocent scene, two families at play and celebrating a holiday that meant everything to them.
Synonyms
amusement, entertainment, relaxation, recreation, enjoyment, pleasure, diversion, distraction, leisure, fun, games, fun and games
1. 1.1 Behavior or speech that is not intended seriously.
  I flinched, but only in play
  Example sentencesExamples
  Teach kids to respect the cat, and do not allow them to chase or corner the cat even in play.
  Gordy and Stevie were fighting, but Rhiannon knew it was only in play.
2. 1.2as modifier Designed to be used in games of pretense; not real.
  play families are arranged in play houses
2The conducting of an athletic match or contest.
rain interrupted the second day's play
Example sentencesExamples
- The first day's play on Friday was restricted to 10.2 overs.
- Players cannot touch the sides or floor of the pool, and must tread water even when not involved in play.
- Incidentally Kim has gone down clutching his ankle so there's going to be a break in play.
- England was 80 for one when bad light finally halted a frustrating day's play with 30 overs still remaining.
- The first half took time to catch fire as play was constantly interrupted by the referee's whistle.
- Each day's play starts at 10 am.
- However he is not very sympathetic when describing poor skill on the field of play.
- In addition, cricket has breaks in play between overs every three or four minutes.
- He did admit that he had felt in charge of the match before play was halted.
- The game opened in the same vein as it was to continue with the play constantly interrupted by fouls.
- Ingrow St John's looked to be coasting to victory at home to Chatburn when play was interrupted.
- In the second half, play was constantly disrupted by both sides making a number of substitutions.
- The Regiment formed a guard of honour before today's play commenced.
- For the first day golfers played 18 holes to determine their placing on the second day of play.
- During the interval the referee walked the pitch trying to decide whether there was enough light for play to continue.
- They were up against it in this match too, conceding a goal after just 35 seconds of play.
- Schofield looked less assured when he finally came on to bowl, going for nine runs in his only over before bad light ended play.
- After two hours and 17 minutes of play the match was abandoned with Greenock on 136 for three.
- He bowled his heart out and all credit to him for livening up the final day's play.
- Germany's thoughtful coach Rudi Voller used the break in play to throw water-bottles to his players.
1. 2.1 The action or manner of engaging in a sport or game.
  he maintained the same rhythm of play throughout the game
  Example sentencesExamples
  His balance is good, his footwork is excellent and his offensive play is there for all to see - it has been superb.
  He has good speed, but he needs to avoid the silly mistakes that have plagued his play.
  With play moving fast up and down field the defences on each side were getting the better of the forward lines.
  This year, though, he has wisely kept his mouth shut and let his play do the talking.
  The first half was close with neither side gaining dominance in any area of play.
  He had eight doubles, a triple and two home runs in his first month of major league play.
  There was a slightly frantic, nervous element to their play after they conceded a needless goal.
  The referee had very little to do in this match such was the standard of play and sportsmanship.
  His play in October has enhanced his standing as one of the game's top young hitters.
  For many years they were treated to glorious attacking play which won football matches.
  The wind was making it difficult for both sides and the quality of play did not match that of the first half.
  Then in the final minutes of the match some good driving play by Athy saw Gorey concede a penalty.
  Superb play by Dave Armstrong earned him the man of the match award and a goal.
  I think our style of play means we always risk conceding goals but we try to mitigate that with good attacks.
  There was zest and quick movement to United's play despite spells of control by Rangers.
  Today, we have got used to watching almost constant attacking play.
  Saturday's match had plenty of open play but solid defences proved hard to breach at both ends of the pitch.
  Their half-back followed up a good break and saw his support play rewarded with the try.
  The crowds in the St Jakobshalle took instantly to Murray's style of play and his expressive personality.
  The visitors just about deserved their victory for their more incisive back play.
2. 2.2 The status of the ball in a game as being available to be played according to the rules.
  the ball was put in play
  Example sentencesExamples
  If a ball runs out of play or into the goal, the ref is alerted by a device on his wrist.
  Sure, there may be a few more aces than in the past, but a lot more balls are put back into play too.
  The free-kick ends up being played into the corner, but Onder Turaci fails to keep it in play.
  The ball goes out of play and he gets to his feet with the air about him of a man who'd settle for a corner.
  It was struck well but the ball hit the cross bar and bounced back into play.
  Irwin had already been booked for a foul when he played on after the ball was judged to have gone out of play.
  Emre goes down injured and the ball is put out of play so that he can receive treatment.
  Those who struggle to get a ball airborne or keep it in play should probably think twice.
  Prop Howard Carr kicked a penalty into touch and the ball bounced back into play after hitting a tree.
  Windass kept the ball in play and ferried it back to Morrison but there was no conviction about his shot.
  For example, the rules of tennis clearly specify when a ball is in play and when it is out of play.
  The ball was on the verge of going out of play, so the angle was rather narrow.
  Greece sportingly kick the ball out of play as the duo try to clear their heads.
  All three hit cracking drives, and all three were reduced to hacking their second shots back into play.
  But it was nice to get hold of the ball as quickly as possible and get it back into play.
  It just puts too much of a demand on the rest of your game, so you have to keep the ball in play.
  From the free, the ball goes out of play for an Irish throw deep inside their own half.
  So why not let the computer decide when a ball is in play and keep time for us.
  David Hagen knocked the ball out of play but inexplicably a corner, not a goal kick, was awarded.
  He walks off the pitch to get treatment, Nigeria kick the ball out of play so he can come back on.
3. 2.3 The state of being active, operative, or effective.
  luck comes into play
  Example sentencesExamples
  The Corsa comes with electric power steering, which only comes into play when needed.
  Bravery and heroism come into play when a person potentially puts the safety of others before their own.
  He has been guilty of significant mistakes; but there is another agenda at play here.
  The US Government's Bureau of Labor says there may be unusual seasonal factors at play in the figures.
  I suspect there is an element of wounded national pride at play here.
  There are, of course, a number of policy considerations in play here, some in conflict.
  The choices are his to make, but the forces at play in his life are far beyond his control.
  But there was more than thwarted ambition and ministerial rivalry at play here.
  For those who like to invest, the shares part of the ISA comes into play.
  It is only when more than two teams finish level on points and they have all beaten one another that run rate comes into play.
  The most likely explanation is that all of these factors were in play.
  It was a compelling theory, but Sarah was well aware that there had been other factors in play.
  This is where personal campaigning by influential people here comes into play.
  I personally think that the whole argument about civil liberties comes into play again.
  The fitness we worked so hard on, that's when it all comes into play, when the season gets gruelling.
  The enemy artillery comes into play and a hail of bullets starts to rain down.
  So much for the various competing, and conflicting interests that are in play.
  Once your income exceeds this tax-free figure, a series of tax bands then comes into play.
  It only leaves the cynics to presume that maybe other motives are in play.
  There are a number of factors at play here, just one of which is the fact that eating badly is cheaper, unfortunately.
  Synonyms
  action, activity, operation, movement, motion, agency, employment, working, function, functioning, exercise, interaction, interplay
4. 2.4 A move or maneuver in a sport or game.
  the best play is to lead the 3 of clubs
  Example sentencesExamples
  There were some exceptional fielding plays on both sides in this game.
  Try and get some of the young players in the league to sit around after a game and rehash the plays.
  He makes good adjustments to the ball and seems to be in on every play from scrimmage.
  The players had been told and shown all Salford's inside plays around the rucks and they knew how to counteract them.
  He always makes the right play, and he even makes the plays you don't think he can make.
  When the ball is in flight, he has a history of attacking it and making the big play.
  It's the most exciting play for a catcher, and when you do it and do it right, it feels good.
  That's what is most important to them - having a field that helps them make the plays that win the game.
  They were one or two plays away from winning all three games.
  Don't try new shots, plays, or moves in the heat of battle, especially if you haven't practiced them.
  At moments in a game great plays are needed, no matter what the defense, and the superstar shifts gears.
  He has good vision and hockey sense, and he can make plays and score big goals.
  On one play, he got the ball on the right side and began dribbling toward the baseline.
  They are making the skilled, individual plays the team has been lacking the past few years.
  His playing time has been reduced to about 20 plays per game, mostly on passing downs.
  But Woodson is getting more chances to make big plays in the passing game this season.
  The truly great players make critical defensive plays, hit big shots and hit crucial free throws down the stretch.
  He must prove to scouts he can stay healthy and give a solid effort on every play.
  Young and Rice hook up for a 44-yard touchdown on the third play from scrimmage.
  He is strong enough to play off blocks and make plays in the running game and agile enough to be an asset in coverage.
  Synonyms
  turn, go
5. 2.5archaic Gambling.
  Example sentencesExamples
  A gentleman complained to Talleyrand of having been insulted by a charge of cheating at play.
3A dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast.
the actors put on a new play
Example sentencesExamples
- In 1913, she found a job on the Winnipeg Telegraph and also appeared in a number of plays at the local theatre.
- The association of music and drama goes back all the way to ancient Greece with the plays of Euripides and Sophocles.
- Its lively resident theater group stages musicals, plays, readings, and concerts here all year.
- Akira Kurosawa made three films based on Shakespeare plays.
- This Pinter play lives up to the writer's reputation for delivering tightly crafted plays with unexpected twists.
- I went to see a double bill of two plays by Harold Pinter.
- A short season of lunchtime performances will begin this July with a play by Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor.
- The future of an ambitious project to stage all the Shakespeare plays is in doubt after the resignation of its director.
- He has written two children's plays entitled the Brown Man and the Donkey Prince.
- Her career has included stage roles in plays by Shakespeare, Chekhov and Ibsen.
- Theatregoers have a choice of two plays on most nights with opportunities to see the entire programme in just one week.
- From creating skits, he moved into writing one-act plays and finally into creating full-length dramas.
- The couple have attended the Christmas plays at the school every year since Daniel was five.
- The show was picked as one of the top ten plays at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival when it was first performed there.
- The group have staged many fine plays and performances here in the past.
- At the close of the play resolutions are being made, and new friendships look to have a promising future.
- It is a dark play about a married couple who try to deal with the death of their son.
- The play sums up all of the uncertainty of the age, while at the same time bringing the issues and ideas of 18th century England right up to date.
- Noel Coward's Private Lives is one of those plays beloved of amateur dramatic societies.
- The Globe Theatre is a reconstruction of the theatre in which Shakespeare's plays were originally staged.
Synonyms
drama, stage play, stage show, theatrical work, theatrical piece, radio play, television play, teleplay, screenplay, comedy, tragedy, farce, sketch
4The space in or through which a mechanism can or does move.
the steering rack was loose, and there was a little play
Example sentencesExamples
- The action is smooth, the cylinder locks up tightly with very little play, and the trigger pull is light and crisp.
- Since then there's been a lot of play in the steering.
Synonyms
movement, freedom of movement, free motion, slack, give
1. 4.1 Scope or freedom to act or operate.
  our policy allows the market to have freer play
  Example sentencesExamples
  It also recognises the fact that the free play of markets creates problems for society.
  Synonyms
  scope, range, latitude, liberty, licence, freedom, indulgence, free rein, release
5Light and constantly changing movement.
the artist exploits the play of light across the surface
Example sentencesExamples
- But this simply melts into a soft play of colours and light as you enter the chapel.
- He stopped and leaned over the bridge wall to watch the play of light on the river.
- The play of light through the space has overtones of spirituality and introspection.
- Be sure to visit at different times of the day and evening to enjoy the play of light.
- Once lighted, it gives out a kaleidoscopic effect from the play of light on the designs.
- He frequently focuses on faces and uses the play of light and shadow to potent effect.
- He was the first photographer really to capture the play of light in interior settings.
- But you also want to create a play of light and shade on the objects before you, revealing depth, form and mood.
- You talk a lot about landscape and beauty and the play of light on the northern hills.
- The deliberate use of an uneven surface allows for the greater play of light.
- The work conveys a subtle depth and a play of light worthy of a Morandi still life.
- For a filmmaker there are no more basic elements at work than the play between light and shade.

Phrases

bring something into play

Cause something to begin operating or to have an effect; activate.
Example sentencesExamples
- Extra pairs of hands have been brought into play to ensure a North Yorkshire historic hall is safely ‘put to bed’ for the winter.
- Of course in order to do all of this, a Digital Rights Management regime has to be brought into play that doesn't rely on locking down music.
- The organizational genius of Lazare Carnot was brought into play to help turn a revolutionary rabble into a properly equipped fighting force.
- In December 2003 new technology was brought into play to fight the battle of icy roads.
- All of his secretarial skills were called into play on this occasion however as young people crowded around him, all wanting to be registered quickly and get on the water.
- These disciplinary procedures can be brought into play even where a patient has not suffered because of the breach of confidence.
- Here the entire information base of the tradition is likely to be called into play, by both opponents and supporters of the tradition.
- Assessments by psychologists with a specialty in end-of-life issues could be brought into play.
- It is not unusual at Celtic Park for the services of a behavioural expert to be brought into play, although this is normally for the study of referees.
- The fall-out will be even worse should the not proven verdict be called into play.
Synonyms
use, employ, exercise, make use of, utilize, avail oneself of, put to use
bring into play, bring into service, arouse, generate, induce, cause, resort to, awaken, deploy, waken, excite, incite, provoke, foment, prompt, stimulate, stir up, impel, galvanize, urge, encourage, inspire, whip up

make a play for

informal Attempt to attract or attain.
Example sentencesExamples
- You'll never believe who Trina Matheson made a play for!
- Waterford Wedgwood has said it has no intention yet of making a play for the company itself but many analysts believe it would use its sizeable stake to block anyone else getting their hands on it.
- Jim Moran of Virginia is making a play for the leadership.
- He was talking to other friends when he noticed another man making a play for his girlfriend.
- The buying spree lasted from October 2004 to January 2005 and Mr Lynch's activity convinced analysts he was attempting to make a play for the group.
- Speaking only for myself, I can't imagine making a play for a straight guy.
- But he withdrew from consideration, making a play for a position of vice president instead.
- The poor chap's probably aching for a spot of home cooking and, if you ask him for a meal with one or two others, he needn't feel you're making a play for him.
- Kerry Gill, the editor of the Scottish edition of the Daily Express, last night lashed out at a rival paper for making a play for his readers.
- ‘Developers are making a play for downtown residential space, taking advantage of of tax incentives and loans from the city of Jacksonville,’ the report says.
Synonyms
make sexual advances to, make advances to, make sexual overtures to, proposition, make a sexual approach to

make (great) play of (or with)

Draw attention to in an ostentatious manner, typically to gain prestige or advantage.
the company made great play of its recent growth in profits
Example sentencesExamples
- In November 2002, the UK media made great play of the fact that a passenger was able to travel to Zambia on her husband's passport.
- Both reported strong results but, more significantly, made play of the fact that they are the kind of company clients turn to during a downturn because they supply more ‘cost-effective’ solutions.
- They made great play of the fact they've spent £300,000 on redecorating the place.
- The US, British, Japanese, Canadian and European governments all made great play of their desire to help the world's poorest countries.
- The revised figure is an embarrassment for the Government, which has made great play of its success in bringing the backlog down from a record high of 103,000 at the start of last year.
- He makes great play of his non-establishment (meaning non-public school, and non-Oxbridge) background.
- For all their perceived monetary difficulties, Hibs continue to make great play of plans to build two football academy-type centres, though both proposals are proceeding slowly.
- He even makes great play of the fact that he used to be right-wing.
- McConnell has made great play of promising that the extra £3.2bn invested in the Scottish health service over the next five years will not simply be a blank cheque.
- Hostile contemporary commentators naturally made great play with alleged waste at court, castigating a spendthrift queen Marie-Antoinette in particular.

play both ends against the middle

Keep one's options open by supporting or favoring opposing sides.
Example sentencesExamples
- How do you know that he's not playing both ends against the middle?
- Like him, he was a brilliant speaker and lawyer and played both ends against the middle.
- He is trying to play both ends against the middle.
- The only catch is that Stoker's been losing so many fights that his manager - playing both ends against the middle - doesn't feel compelled to let Stoker know he's been contracted to take a dive in the third round.
- Big Oil is hardly blameless and at the start was no doubt trying to play both ends against the middle.
- It is critical that the parents develop a civil means of communication, such as by e-mail or communication book, or Alex will take advantage of the lacuna to play both ends against the middle.

play something by ear

1Perform music without having to read from a score.
Example sentencesExamples
- For relaxation he played the piano by ear, favouring Chopin's Etudes.
- Almost every Kazak knows how to sing and play a musical instrument by ear.
- Today he still can't read music; he plays instruments by ear.
- He was born into a family of musicians, and by the age of four he could play any tune by ear.
- Later on, I discovered I could play the piano by ear and it became my passion.
- He taught himself to play a bit by ear, amused the rowdy crowds, and picked up small change.
- Have you truly achieved mastery of your instrument if you cannot play it by ear?
- He learned to play the piano by ear, developing a talent for improvisation which, years later, he would put to good use during the filming of America: A Personal History of the United States.
1. 1.1informal Proceed instinctively according to results and circumstances rather than according to rules or a plan.
  Example sentencesExamples
  Though his parents believe studies and going to a university are important, they are going to play it by ear.
  I'm not sure what's on the itinerary; we'll just play it by ear; might visit a gallery, go for something to eat, etc.
  Unless you're specifically dating to get married, or you have some sort of long-term plan from the start, isn't a lot safer to play it by ear?
  ‘There are storms forecast for later in the week but we are just playing it by ear,’ said trainer Michael Jarvis.
  That's a decision for the future, and we'll play it by ear.
  We are just playing it by ear and waiting to see what is going to happen.
  We'll play quite a lot of tunes from the latest LP, but usually we play it by ear and see how the gig's going and then throw in some tracks from the older albums.
  I haven't made any decisions; I'm just going to play it by ear.
  I can't predict how it's going to go, though, so I'll just play it by ear.
  We haven't got any plans as yet, and we don't know when the next thing will be and we're just kind of playing it by ear.
  Synonyms
  improvise, extemporize, rise to the occasion, ad lib
  improvise, extemporize, ad lib

play by the rules

Follow what is generally held to be the correct line of behavior.
Example sentencesExamples
- The belief that if one works hard and plays by the rules, one will have a reasonable chance of succeeding as a child and an adult (the American Dream) is a central organizing and motivating force in our society.
- The system should be there for people who are playing by the rules - if they can work they should, if they can't we look after them as a community.
- Michael Buchan claims that he and his fellow Scottish white fish producers are being penalised for playing by the rules.
- Capone is a Jamaican cop who refuses to play by the rules.
- He defended the £20,000 poured into the marginal seats of Romsey and Eastleigh by party treasurer Lord Ashcroft for campaigns, saying the party was playing by the rules and not using an unfair advantage.
- The role of an umpire and a judge is critical to make sure everybody plays by the rules.
- If it became too difficult to obtain parole then they could create a faction of dissident prisoners who will see no incentive in playing by the rules and addressing their offending behaviour.
- Compulsory schooling defines good citizens as those who play by the rules, stay in line, and do as they're told.
- To win in a competition, it is often necessary to avoid playing by the rules.
- They feel betrayed because they work hard and play by the rules and expect a fair chance to compete in the world economy.
Synonyms
play fair, be fair, play by the rules, abide by the rules, follow the rules, conform, be a good sport, toe the line, keep in step

play fair

Observe principles of justice; avoid cheating.
Example sentencesExamples
- It was maddening to see skiers I knew to be playing fair, guys who trained their hearts out with little financial reward, lose to the cheaters.
- We believe our customers want the security of a bank which is here for the long term, which plays fair and has no nasty surprises up its sleeve.
- IOC president Jacques Rogge encouraged athletes to play fair.
- To continue the footballing analogy, it is like asking footballers to sign a formal declaration before each game that they will not cheat and will always play fair.
- An African sugar farmer has visited Manchester to try to persuade traders and politicians to play fair when buying his produce.
- That's a big boast, but the bill does not contain that much by way of safeguards for punters, and there is nothing at all to say that bookmakers must play fair by clients, even those who win.
- But over the past fortnight, Hunter and Gorman have been reduced to defending their integrity and business dealings against accusations that they failed to play fair.
- If they broke rules, why should we now be expected to play fair?
- To Sam this wasn't playing fair, but they soon found out that despite clauses in the contract of sale that forbade such enterprises there was pragmatically not much they could do.
- There is in fact no yardstick by which one country can be judged to be playing fair in its trade relations with others.
Synonyms
play fair, be fair, play by the rules, abide by the rules, follow the rules, conform, be a good sport, toe the line, keep in step

play someone false

Prove treacherous or deceitful toward someone.
Example sentencesExamples
- Sophia now sees that he has played her false. He is not her true love.
- His post-1934 correspondence and memoirs frequently contradict reliable accounts of the period, and the conclusion that his memory played him false on numerous occasions is inescapable.
Synonyms
betray, cheat, defraud, trick, hoodwink, mislead, deceive, swindle, break one's promise to, be disloyal to, be unfaithful to, break faith with, play false, fail, let down

play fast and loose

Behave irresponsibly or immorally.
Example sentencesExamples
- This film about the Latin American revolutionary plays fast and loose with the facts.
- As a historian and also a lover of the arts, Marshall has no problem with Schiller's playing fast and loose with the facts.
- It appears that someone was playing fast and loose with the facts.
- This is the norm in overseas universities, where academics caught making up ‘evidence,’ doctoring lab results and playing fast and loose with the facts get into an awful lot of trouble.
- Practicing cheap and dirty politics, playing fast and loose with the facts and even lying: Accusations like these, and worse, have been slung nonstop this year.
- Many people around Scotland's coasts have done very nicely for decades out of taking too many fish from the sea, failing to plan for stock regeneration and playing fast and loose with European fisheries quotas.
- Meanwhile, Chris, one of his students, is blazing away at his own novel, a historical saga that plays fast and loose with the facts about Mary, Queen of Scots.
- Like Atkinson he will risk abuse if he plays fast and loose with the story.
- You already noted that Moore plays fast and loose with the facts, and mildly criticized him for it.
- While on the topic of movies; Ridley Scott's latest movie venture on the Crusades has earned him the the ire of history academics who have accused him of playing fast and loose with the truth.
Synonyms
trifle, toy, play, amuse oneself, flirt, play fast and loose, tinker, philander, womanize, carry on

play favorites

Show favoritism toward someone or something.
Example sentencesExamples
- How could I ever play favourites between these two.
- They crowded around her, and Koko, who plays favourites, asked one woman wearing red to come closer.
- Many smash repairers say the insurance companies are going too far, and playing favourites, even amongst the preferred repairers.
- People were swearing at me the whole time and accusing me of playing favourites.
- I won't start naming them cause I don't want to play favourites.
- She didn't play favourites: she treated me just as she would any of her other students, calling on me to answer questions, say words.
- It was announced only that the climate in the team was not good, and that he had played favourites with some players.
- I think the publisher is just playing favourites and I'm very offended.
- ‘I'm the prime minister of Australia, you have to understand I don't play favourites between different parts of the country, ‘he said.’
- You could tell the teacher played favourites, and that I wouldn't be one of them.

play for time

Use specious excuses or unnecessary maneuvers to gain time.
Example sentencesExamples
- They're playing for time and our position is they should not be allowed to do that.
- And he played for time, urging the U.S. to be patient.
- The Government - pleading realpolitik, invoking the national interest and playing for time - seem to have pacified, at least on the surface, an angry public.
- I would urge Bolton Council to tell the developers to stop playing for time, get this through the planning committee once and for all, and reject this application in any form.
- Many commentators believe the Government is simply playing for time.
- It is possible that investors who rejected its advances on Friday were merely playing for time given that there is a bid on the table, and maybe a higher one to follow.
- They could opt to follow the tobacco industry and play for time, which you'd have to say has worked out very well for tobacco firms.
- Instead he reaches for his glass, hoping to play for time - and to get some courage from the wine.
- Was there anything to be gained by playing for time, trying to learn more of what he might be facing?
- De Lancourt played for time, telling his creditors that he was expecting a £1000 bank draft - any day.
Synonyms
use delaying tactics, stall, temporize, gain time, hang back, hang fire, hold back, procrastinate, beat about the bush, drag one's feet, delay, filibuster, stonewall

play a (or one's) hunch

Make an instinctive choice.
Example sentencesExamples
- When that webpage was completely open, Brant found the site's search engine and played his hunch.
- Just playing a hunch, but I think that might be our boy.
- But there will be occasions when they play a hunch or follow an adventurous whim.
- Go ahead, play your hunch, take the chance,
- ‘So what it all comes down to is, you're playing a hunch, Gov?’ said Smith.
- ‘This is no time for playing a hunch,’ Warren warned.

play into someone's hands

Act in such a way as unintentionally to give someone an advantage.
they accused him of playing into the hands of the enemy
Example sentencesExamples
- I think that we are playing into his hands, I don't think that a man like this should be given air time.
- The American captain, Curtis Strange, may have unwittingly played into Torrance 's hands.
- I fear I may already be playing into their hands by writing this and giving them more publicity, but I couldn't be silent.
- Most drivers and team engineers believe that Ferrari's advantage was exaggerated because the cool weather in Melbourne played into their hands.
- The SNP believes that the First Minister has blundered by playing into their hands.
- Half way through the third race there was no way I thought I would win but suddenly everything started playing into my hands and I took advantage.
- When his family rowed with him, he simply began spending even more time with Eyre, playing into his hands.
- Their forwards did not appear to be of true world class, but France were so hopeless that they played into New Zealand 's hands.
- When I won, it was blowing a howling gale in the first round, really tough, and that played into my hands.
- We really gave the ball away far too much and, in the end played into Middlesbrough 's hands.

play it cool

informal Make an effort to be or appear to be calm and unemotional.
Example sentencesExamples
- He tried to play it cool but I could see that he was nervous.
- Figuring he was interested, she played it cool.
- I fell for her too quickly, really, and she played it cool in them days.
- I was too busy playing it cool to realize how stupid I had just been.
- I considered playing it cool, and pretending that I knew all along.
- Obviously I knew what they were talking about but I tried to play it cool, in case it wasn't what I thought it was.
- Chantelle's heart jumped into her throat but she played it cool.
- I was trying to play it cool, but once we'd landed and were whisked away to our Grandstand seats, I degenerated into excited schoolboy mode.
- Mom is playing it cool, but her eyes betray her real emotions.
- Nevertheless Phil and I absolutely fell for each other but for once in my life I played it cool.

play the market

Speculate in stocks.
Example sentencesExamples
- If you have more than 25 years you can afford to really play the market and put most of your investments in the stock market.
- He took loans against his credit cards, home equity loans, and whatever else he could get to play the market.
- Of course if you want to speculate or play the market, you need to acknowledge that you are taking on board, or you're voluntarily assuming, a degree of risk.
- If you still can't make an informed decision after an intensive study of research reports, prospectuses and the financial figures a company puts out, you are probably not meant to play the market.
- If you have the foresight to start planning when your child is still an infant, you will be much freer to play the market and make higher risk, higher return investments in a 15 to 18-year period.
- He attributes his success to playing the market rather than investing in it.
- For most stock market investors, whether pension funds or individuals playing the market from their home PC, short-term growth is the goal.
- Indeed, the results of BusinessWeek's annual survey of the 500 biggest offshore funds show that, in spite of all the gloom and doom, it's possible to play the market and win.
- Virtually every dollar he got his hands on, right to the end of his life in 1950, was lost playing the market.
- Shareholders in western corporations are usually motivated to play the market for just one thing: money.
Synonyms
gamble, take a chance, take a risk, venture, take a venture, wager

a play on words

A pun.
Example sentencesExamples
- ‘The title's a play on words, really,’ he explains.
- By his own admission, the self-congratulatory title is actually a play on words based on the legendary Studio One in Kingston.
- The headline, ‘The Last Anchor,’ is a play on words: ‘anchor’ as in anchorman and also any object that secures firmly.
- He said: ‘The youth church will be called Sorted, which is a bit of a play on words, because as well as being a trendy, youth culture word, ‘soter’ is Greek for salvation.
- The word Utopia, in More's hands, is actually a play on words.
- It is called sound geometry and is just a play on words really because the CD's are about sound usually and it is a very geometrical concept.
- ‘Modern ‘readers of this book are in for a pleasant surprise from the outset - its very title turns out to be a play on words.’
- For those of you out there who didn't realise it was a play on words.
- Why is something less ‘obscene’ because it's a play on words?
- I was unprepared, though, for the excellence of chef Willie Little's establishment Exceed - a play on words which refers to the premises, once the shop and loft for seed merchants.
- If the title contains subtlety, or a play on words, or something that Germans are unlikely to be able to easily translate, they may go for a different English language title.
Synonyms
pun, wordplay, double entendre, double meaning, innuendo, witticism, quip, quibble

play a part

Make a contribution to a situation.
social and economic factors may have also played a part
he personally wanted to thank those nurses and staff who had played a part in his recovery
Example sentencesExamples
- In practice, elements of all are likely to play a part.
- The possibly calming effect of having family present for the control group during the intervention could have played a part in the reaction.
- The survey, carried out by the Co-operative Bank, interviewed 1020 people to see how much ethics play a part in consumer spending.
- A couple of lineup changes may play a part in Game Three.
- Mr Simpson said: "The main point of the day was to remember everyone who played a part in D-Day".
- Evidently the type of vocational emphasis in the chosen school plays a part in early school leaving.
- A sharp rise in life expectancy has also played a part.
- The criminal justice system also plays a part in moral education.
- The financial advantage of being in an Enterprise Zone also played a part.
- There is, however, a great deal of satisfaction to be gained from playing a part in developing health services.
Synonyms
contribute to, be instrumental in, be a factor in, be partly responsible for, have a hand in, be conducive to, make for, lead to, cause, give rise to

play (or play it) safe (or for safety)

Take precautions; avoid risks.
Example sentencesExamples
- The results so far show that women prefer to play it safe than to take risks with their money.
- Sometimes, in politics as well as in poker, playing safe isn't the best strategy.
- I've spent so much of my life being afraid, missing out on experiences because I was playing it safe, staying within the lines, doing what was expected of me.
- Antonio maintains he thought he was playing it safe, because his computer was not directly connected to the Internet.
- The Academy surprised me last year with some genuinely unconventional choices, but I'm playing it safe here.
- I'm the kind of person who would rather play it safe and lose out than risk everything and have a chance at winning.
- She had to weigh up the pros and cons - risk a long time out this spring, or play it safe and maybe miss out on a medal in front of her home crowd.
- He later said: ‘You don't win gold medals by playing it safe.’
- But I decided that playing it safe would be no fun at all.
- He has never concealed the fact that he is a moderate politician who plays safe, so he is not about to stick his neck out.

play a trick (or joke) on

Behave in a deceptive or teasing way toward.
Example sentencesExamples
- Derek heard it too, I thought someone was playing a joke on us but there was no one there.
- I stared at the arrow for a few moments, making sure that my eyes weren't playing a trick on me.
- Mr White, from near Southampton, had been asleep on the sofa when they decided to play a joke on him.
- It's got to be one of our friends playing a joke on us.'
- Scriptwriter Ronan Bennett plays a trick on the audience.
- Are you sure it's not someone playing a trick on you?
- Maybe someone's just playing a trick on me to freak me out.
- Hey, maybe we can play a joke on Mom with something from the gift shop.
- This time, I decided to play a joke on my parents.
- I was still kind of angry because I thought that maybe somebody was playing a trick on me, or something.
- ‘They're playing a joke on us,’ he shouted back.
- John is so astonished by his wife's behavior that he believes her to be mentally ill (after initially thinking she's playing a joke on him).
- It turns out to be Elaine, who was playing a joke on him.
- In Peter's last class, he decided to play a joke on the students by saying that they had an oral exam.
- She said: ‘When I received the phone call saying that I had won the car, I hung up the phone on them because I thought it was someone playing a joke on me.’
- She was hoping that maybe her mind was just playing a trick on her.
- October 31 is a time when children go around ‘trick or treating’ dressed as witches and ghosts and threatening to play a trick on those who do not give them sweets.
- Greg is a trendy, barefoot shrink, who plays a trick on his wife, in order to spice up their love life.
- It doesn't matter, maybe he doesn't want to tell me his name or he was just playing a joke on me the whole time.
- Maybe they were playing a joke on Heather, did you ever think of that?
Synonyms
deceive, trick, play a trick on, hoax, dupe, take in, mislead, delude, hoodwink, bluff, beguile, gull, make a fool of, outwit

play with oneself

informal Masturbate.

play with fire

Take foolish risks.
Example sentencesExamples
- United manager Ian McCall might be considered to be playing with fire.
- Going out with a stepbrother is not illegal, but you're playing with fire here.
- Pretending under age sex does not happen or imposing out-of-touch morals on those who are sexually active is playing with fire.
- We are playing with fire if we allow such technologies and products, without knowing how to deal with the consequences.
- Roeder's attempt to ignite his team's season with a player who has courted controversy at almost every turn was described by critics as playing with fire.
- Now when it comes to technological advances I have no problem, however when it involves messing with a biological system such as our bodies I believe we are playing with fire.
- Adapting Schiller was playing with fire, and getting an opera based on his work on stage could be risky, in Italy above all.
- By toying with this crisis the politicians are playing with fire.
- If that is the First Minister's game he may be playing with fire.
- We're playing with fire when we make huge changes to a complex system that we don't understand, as we seem to be doing with the various substances we're pumping into our atmosphere.
Synonyms
run a risk, live dangerously, play with fire, sail close to the wind, risk it

Phrasal Verbs

play along

Pretend to cooperate.
she had to play along and be polite
Example sentencesExamples
- At first she started to play along with him to calm him down, suggesting things.
- I figured I could play along with the ‘just friends’ bit, then ply him with alcohol and take advantage of him.
- When Sascha first told me he was a neuropsychologist, I thought he was joking, so I decided to play along with it and told him I was a nurse.
- I'm dying to scream the truth out to everyone from the roof tops, yet I know I'll play along with this ridiculous charade.
- Nicky, of course, was perfectly happy to play along with this.
- Apparently the Germans played along in order to win time to reinforce their forces in Italy.
- He now claims that he knew all the time that it was a sting and was just playing along, giving the reporters what they wanted in order to extract more information about their motives and identities.
- I didn't want to play along with her stupid mind games anymore.
- He took that opportunity to give Daphne a little wink to let her know that he would play along with whatever she decided to do.
- I have no desire to play along with Kelly's little machinations.
Synonyms
cooperate, collaborate, play along, play the game, go along with the plan, show willing, be willing, help, lend a hand, assist, be of assistance, contribute, reciprocate, respond

play someone along

Deceive or mislead someone over a period of time.
Example sentencesExamples
- I had no idea what I was doing, just that I had to play him along and find us a way out of this.
- Rather than telling the ‘buyer’ to take a running jump, Jeff decided to play him along while at the same time complaining about his actions to eBay.
- Jackie Lye as Gill the good time girl playing Mark along is certainly lust on legs and captures this temptress perfectly.

play something back

Play sounds that one has recently recorded, especially to monitor recording quality.
Example sentencesExamples
- The next time you're out with a group of friends, obtain permission to record casual conversation for 30 minutes and then play it back.
- Mike played the tape back and the song sounded awesome.
- Fortunately I recorded the breakfast show trail so I could play it back when we'd finished, and in all honesty I think it's the best one I've done so far.
- The ability to record musical performances and play them back at any time was, during the 20th century, the principal force spreading music and its appreciation to an ever-wider public.
- Digital photos can be played back in a slide show, complete with a soundtrack compiled from the music library.
- The comments were only noticed after the official Press briefing, when the recordings were played back.
- After recording one track, you can play it back while recording another.
- We tried to record the call so we could play it back on air, but could only capture my half of the conversation, which was no good.
- I handed him a list of questions that I had prepared and promised him that we could record the interview, play it back, and if he did not like it we would scrap it.
- They don't do it live, he records it then plays it back a few minutes later.

play something down

Represent something as being less important than it in fact is.
he tried to play down the seriousness of his illness
Example sentencesExamples
- We are in a substantial and serious crisis and both the government and the media are playing it down.
- Not surprisingly, this whole episode was played down by the press.
- However, the Scottish Executive were playing the possibility down.
- If Torrance made any significant contribution to his son's tactical thinking he is playing it down.
- Within the corridors of parliament last week, many opposition MSPs had begun playing the affair down.
- As much as she plays it down, not wishing to ‘romanticise’ it, her home life must have been a rich source of inspiration.
- Sharon plays it down, insisting it'll be a small affair.
- We are definitely playing this win down - it's easy for the supporters to get carried away but we have to take certain things into account.
- But Det Supt Higgins yesterday played his role down, saying he could never have done it without the extraordinary dedication of a team of officers.
- But the risk is played down by the government body meant to ensure that our food is safe, the Food Standards Agency.
Synonyms
make light of, make little of, make nothing of, set little store by, set no store by, gloss over, de-emphasize, underemphasize, downplay, understate, underplay, minimize, shrug off

play someone off

Bring people into conflict or competition for one's own advantage.
detectives employ more than one informant so as to play one off against the other
Example sentencesExamples
- Meanwhile we have a Government that is effectively responding by playing them off each other promising much and delivering very little.
- Confronted by this evidence of disunity among his enemies, Charles took the understandable but risky course of playing them off against each other.
- Give them the information they need and then play them off against each other until the sum you're being offered is a fair approximation of what you want to receive.
- Don't let the property developers play us off against each other.
- The British government is effectively abdicating IT strategy to the major players and confining itself to attempts to play them off against one another in order to obtain lower prices.
- He left the running of the country to his deputies, playing them off against each other, intervening only to reassert his authority.
- That way, the buyers could not play us off against each other.
- It's divide-and-rule, playing us off in a grim bidding war of who will work for the least money.
- To prevent workers from taking a unified stance against management, the latter tries to split its workers into groups and to play them off against one another.
- ‘Eamon believed that Today FM were trying to play him off against Bird as a way of keeping down the size of his salary,’ said one station insider.

play off

(of two teams or competitors) play an extra game or match to decide a draw or tie.
Example sentencesExamples
- These two teams played off a couple of weeks ago at the same ground, and Port won handsomely as they dominated North Ballarat all over the ground.
- The four provincial champions will qualify for the quarter-finals with the defeated teams playing off for the other four places.
- The third and fourth place teams also played off, with the loser eliminated and the winner playing the loser of the one versus two game.
- In the event of both teams finishing level they play off with each pairing playing a single game.
- The top four teams will play off for the premier division title with the bottom four playing for the First Division title.
- The top team in each of the two groups go directly to the semi-finals, with the next two teams in each pool playing off for the remaining spots in the last four.
- The winners of their respective matches will contest the final, while the losers will play off for the bronze medal.
- Division B teams would be playing off for the right to go up to Division A at the expense of the worst performed team in Division A.
- The section winners will play off to decide the overall champions in a championship tournament on April 1.
- Sadly, aggregate scores counted for nothing in those days, and having won and lost a leg apiece, the teams played off.

play on

Exploit (a weak or vulnerable point in someone)
he played on his opponent's nerves
Example sentencesExamples
- It is true that much of the humour plays on cultural differences but this is done without ever becoming too crude or crass.
- We laugh because it plays on our deep anxieties about our own sexuality.
- The council has played on the emotions of these people and their relatives.
- It plays on the fact that there is nothing else up there and you'll probably be desperate for something to eat, or at least to drink.
- The artist creates this discomfort and plays on it, usurping expectations.
- These stories always appear to have been made up by newspapers seeking sales by playing on people's fears.
- Any company that asks for large amounts of money or plays on people's greed or fears should be immediately suspect.
- All this from a fear that is not well articulated and plays on the emotive issue of terrorism.
- Any politician who plays on race is a danger to the country and should never be allowed to run in any public office.
- The idealism of childhood is further perpetuated by the advertising industry that plays on our nostalgia for a time when everything came easily.
Synonyms
exploit, take advantage of, use, make use of, turn to account, turn to one's account, profit by, capitalize on, impose on, trade on, milk, abuse, misuse

play someone out

Drain someone of strength or life.
Example sentencesExamples
- There was a sense that I was played out, I was finished.
- There was nowhere else I could go. I was played out.
- By this time I was played out and so were Beck and Nora.

play something out

Act the whole of a drama; enact a scene or role.
Example sentencesExamples
- Such scenes are played out across the whole of Britain with a fair degree of regularity, though they remain relatively rare north of the border.
- Supplemented with archive material that showed how the drama was played out on local TV, it makes compelling viewing.
- The little church has seen hundred of years pass by and lives long forgotten have played their dramas out around it.
- Not surprisingly, due to his fame, the whole scenario was played out in the papers.
- Is landscape just merely the indifferent background scene on which our lives are played out or it is integral to who we are and how we feel?
- It does, however, offer a far closer insight into the reality of justice, as it is played out every day in our courts, than anything most ordinary people will ever see.
- It goes without saying that one sees the full range of human emotion - great life and death dramas are played out before one's eyes.
- The saga was played out all this week in the Spanish newspapers.
- It is just that, here, all life's dramas are played out in front of the most spectacular backdrop you could hope to find.
- Similar scenes have been played out thousands and thousands of times around the country.
- On 21st November, 1953, the final scene in the saga was played out.
Synonyms
portray, represent, depict, characterize, describe, present

play something up

Emphasize the extent or importance of something.
the mystery surrounding his death was played up by the media
Example sentencesExamples
- His warnings were unheeded, and, as he predicted, Republicans played the issue up in the final weeks of the campaign.
- Fearful of being accused of complacency, they fail to allay public fears and often play up hypothetical risks.
- Fianna Fáil were wary of playing up their chances.
- The government is playing up the great energy savings these regulations will provide and selling the new laws as a ‘win’ to the environment.
- We certainly play that fact up whenever we've got an award-winning book.
- While even the most diehard Celtic fan will find it difficult to muster up excitement, Sky are still trying to play the match up as if it's Judgement Day itself.
- Predictions of 450,000 lost jobs are played up in the media, while the jobs that will be created to combat global warming are ignored.
- She took it much worse than I did, though I played it up for the girls a bit when they came around to coddle me.
- Now governments can get more support by playing the threat up and issuing constant warnings.
- They played up fears of juvenile crime and welfare dependency, but failed to challenge the belief that mothers worked only out of financial necessity.
Synonyms
emphasize, lay emphasis on, put emphasis on, accentuate, bring attention to, call attention to, draw attention to, focus attention on, point up, underline, underscore, highlight, spotlight, foreground, feature, give prominence to, bring to the fore, heighten, stress, accent

play up to

Exploit, trade on, or make the most of.
Example sentencesExamples
- He's also a mass of contradictions, desperately playing up to more successful ex-schoolmates and then verbally and physically assaulting them.
- When every major presidential candidate contributes to a candidate or plays up to a labor activist in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina, that makes it possible for the recipients of this attention to choose relatively freely.
Synonyms
ingratiate oneself with, seek the favour of, try to get on the good side of, curry favour with, court, fawn on, fawn over, make up to, keep someone sweet, toady to, crawl to, grovel to, pander to, be obsequious towards, truckle to, flatter

play around (or about)

1Behave in a casual, foolish, or irresponsible way.
you shouldn't play around with a child's future
Example sentencesExamples
- I'm fairly happy with the layout, but I think I might play around with the colour scheme over the next few days.
- It is no longer possible to play around with identity politics.
- Back in my days working at the Shake bar me and some of the other workers in the quiet time used to play around with the bottles.
- A lot of Christmas discs play around with the music we've grown to love over the years, but not enough try and make something unique enough to really stand out.
- I had quite a full weekend, although most of Saturday was spent playing about with the new DVD player.
- We can't play around with the future of our children.
- These investments of course may yet come good, but I suppose I just don't have that sort of disposable income to play around with.
- Everyone knows that when scientists play around with genes, they screw up.
- Instead of 64 mb of RAM, I've suddenly got 512 mbs to play around with.
- It's that time of year again when parents are advised to keep a watch on their children to make sure they do not play around with fireworks.
1. 1.1informal (of a married person) have a love affair.
  Example sentencesExamples
  I'm amazed the number of my married women friends who've played away since their fifties.
  If you can live with that (and without your current BF when he finds out), play away!
  With fame and wealth come more opportunities to play away, but it is selfish to believe that only the players feel lonely.
  I was married with a little boy by now but my wife fell in love with someone else and I was playing away.
  A one-night stand cost him an estimated stg £100m when his wife, Pamela, found out that he had been playing away from home.
  Lowly Wigan's problems mount - they are like the cheating husband who gets his kicks by playing away!

Origin

Old English pleg(i)an ‘to exercise’, plega ‘brisk movement’, related to Middle Dutch pleien ‘leap for joy, dance’.

单词	play
释义	Definition of play in English: play verb pleɪpleɪ 1no object Engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose. the children were playing by a pool her friends were playing with their dolls Example sentencesExamples Let her use up her energy by playing outside every day and enjoying other lively activities. He has above average reading skills, he's a happy child and plays with his friends in the evenings. If it was warm we played outside on the grass, which was so different to our cobbled streets at home. He needs a stick to walk and finds playing with his son Alex, aged four, difficult. After lunch the kids were sent out to play, the women-folk took the dishes off to the kitchen and the men flopped in front of the TV. Officials are advising the public to prevent their children or dogs from playing on or near the edges of the canal. Mr Byrne came out of his house and took the football to stop the boys playing. They fell into silence, watching their children play together. The boys played together on the nearby hills and fished and swam in the local loch. I want to lie on the couch reading the paper on a Sunday morning with my children playing around me and my husband's hand in mine. Last week Cromane Beach was a hive of activity with children playing, swimming and enjoying picnics. He said the two were playing when the accused boy picked up the stone and hit his friend in the stomach. Do you know who your children are playing with or where they are playing? She sees other children playing happily, mothers lavishing care on children, but no one plays with her. Children can feed, touch and play with the animals during free public tours led by park rangers. In the evenings, she plays outside with her friends. The drama happened when the boys, one celebrating his birthday, were playing at an isolated spot by the river near Pottery Lane. We didn't see that much of them, even from the beginning, though the children played together a lot. Ms Baulland was sitting on a bench near the grass area where the boys were playing. He says this causes a range of problems, such as discouraging residents from walking to shops or children playing in the street. Synonyms amuse oneself, entertain oneself, enjoy oneself, have fun, have a good time, relax, rest, be at leisure, occupy oneself, divert oneself, play games, frolic, frisk, gambol, romp, cavort, caper informal mess about/around, lark (about/around) dated sport archaic or humorous disport oneself 1.1with object Engage in (a game or activity) for enjoyment. I want to play Snakes and Ladders Example sentencesExamples Those were the days of mini skirts and she would always seat herself across from me while we played cards. Armed with copies of the morning newspapers and flasks of coffee and dressed in their civvies, they chatted, or played cards to pass the time. Out on the town we played Space Invaders or PacMan down at our local video parlour. It was unlikely I was going to find Adie playing Space Invaders at such an unearthly hour, but it was worth a try. I've been playing Mario world all day, and am going to have another shot at it today. When you play Monopoly with your family, there are rules that you enforce and rules that you probably don't. They also played board games like checkers, chess, and dominoes. She said: ‘I have been playing Scrabble for 14 years and I love the variety and challenge of it.’ The poor creatures aren't even allowed to play conkers at school any more. After dinner that night we played cards for a while. Too much emphasis is placed on solitary activities such as playing video games or watching television. The other girls would tiptoe down the hall and peek in on them, watching as they played cards and draughts. As such, the games were quite fun to play, despite their rather basic gameplay. He sat down next to me as though he'd never been away, and we played cards and had a few beers - a lot of beers, to be honest. Remember when you were a kid playing poker on your kitchen table for pennies? Synonyms take part in, participate in, engage in, be involved in, join in, compete in, do 1.2 Amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretence. the boys were playing at soldiers Example sentencesExamples As a child, she had played at being a gun-toting cowgirl. In summer we played shop in back yards or gardens, or hopscotch on the pavements. My children don't play with guns, but at lunchtime some were playing at shooting each other. As a boy, I used to play cowboys and Indians all the time. It is like little boys and girls playing doctors and nurses. I waiting impatiently for the bell to ring so I could run out to meet my friends at the playground and play cops and robbers. It was all a game, like playing at shops; but unknowingly, I was learning the value of money. 1.3play at Engage in without proper seriousness or understanding. it would be wrong to assume that he is simply playing at right-wing politics Example sentencesExamples Lemar doesn't actually seem to know they're just playing at being in love with each other. But they were playing at being villains, like in the movies. I mean, they were just playing at it before, but now they're completely serious. Their conformity to the tenets of a philosophy that was supposed to be about non-conformity, suggests that, deep down, they were were playing at it. So that she could play at being a countrywoman at Versailles, Louis XV provided her with a hermitage comprising a pavilion, a menagerie, a pasture, dairy and kitchen garden. Synonyms pretend to be, give the appearance of, assume/affect the role of, pass oneself off as, masquerade as, profess to be, pose as, impersonate, make out, fake, feign, simulate, affect, go through the motions of North American informal make like 1.4play with Treat inconsiderately for one's own amusement. she likes to play with people's emotions Example sentencesExamples No-one would exploit real people and play with their emotions and date them just for a piece of art. And I don't really think Jen is playing with Josh's feelings, I think she's just as confused as she sounds. She should have known that Eddie was just playing with her heart like everyone else he flirted with. Do you think I've just been playing with your emotions this last fortnight? Synonyms take advantage of, impose on, exploit, make use of, use, abuse, misuse, manipulate, take liberties with, trifle with, play with 1.5play with Fiddle or tamper with. has somebody been playing with these taps? Example sentencesExamples Julie walked over and sat down next to her, playing with the cuffs of her sweatshirt. His eyes wander evasively, he plays with his cigar and glances round a supposed movie studio that is nothing more than a shoddy mock-up. He peeled himself away from the shadows and walked over to us, idly playing with his sword. Sarah plays with her food with her fork, picking out the chocolate chips and making a pile of them at the side of her plate. Her salad was whisked away and she moved onto playing with the noodles in her pasta. For the next 15 minutes Vanessa picked at her nails as Isabel played with her hair. Elizabeth played with one of the flowers in her basket as they walked in silence. He plays with his hands as we sit down at the Toronto International Film Festival to discuss his latest project. Cable tidies will help prevent children from tripping over cables and playing with them. She had stopped eating and was just playing with her pasta, pushing it around the plate with her fork. Synonyms handle, hold, pick up, move 1.6be playing atwith negative or in questions Used to convey one's irritation at someone's actions or one's failure to understand their motives. what on earth do you think you're playing at? Example sentencesExamples She poked at it with the bread knife and asked, ‘What did you think you were playing at, bringing that filth into my kitchen?’ It's hard to imagine just what the BBC is playing at here. I had a talk to Phil and asked him just what precisely he thought he was playing at? Then a bus garage came into view, and we realised that the bus was going there, so we went downstairs and asked the driver what he was playing at. Then she got angry with the men, asking what they thought they were playing at and all that. What does the US Administration think it is playing at? When five executives left Royal Bank Development Capital last summer, seasoned observers wondered what they were playing at. This time Spain at least knew what they were playing at and it is true that the side is very, very young and packed with potential. It certainly does make we wonder what the BBC thinks it is playing at! Interrupting a sentimental ditty, he asked them what they thought they were playing at. 2with object Take part in (a sport) I play squash and badminton Example sentencesExamples There's a lot of people that want to play sport but do not want to get into an aggressive sport. I love the game and played club cricket poorly until age and sloth took over. Ginny played beach volleyball with the local high school students and learned how to surf. The majority of Australian umpires have played cricket at a relatively low level or not at all. If you can swim you can go swimming, canoeing, diving, play water polo or do aqua fitness sports such as aquarobics. I used to play netball when I was a teenager, but was never very good at it. Another new initiative was launched this week to get more children playing sport. Christopher also plays ice hockey for Hull, and he is a defenceman in both sports. He also played hockey with distinction and represented Sri Lanka in this sport. I loved playing international cricket, the tours, the thrill of it. If Darryl Berry played any other sport but golf, he would probably earn a living from it. As a young man he loved sport, playing baseball, football and hockey. The Manchester United winger said: ‘I dislocated my jaw in the summer and I have not been allowed me to play any contact sport up until now.’ We just had to prove we played basketball better than the rest of the world. He was active in sport in his youth and played both hockey and badminton. She is a fine athlete and has played volleyball and basketball for her school. I'm a 25-year-old single bloke who plays international cricket and tours the world. He had previously played football with Sutton United and liked to watch snooker as well. He enjoyed many sports, and played table tennis for Manchester and tennis for Manchester University. Playing football is all I want to do and playing football in England is perfect for me. Synonyms take part in, participate in, engage in, be involved in, join in, compete in, do 2.1 Participate in (a sporting match or contest) the squad will have played 14 games in six weeks Example sentencesExamples Kanoute looked as if he hadn't played a football match all season. In September to mid November, the training program will reach its peak with the bowlers expected to play up to 75 games. I was really hoping for a win but we played well and we are going in the right direction. We would rather play as many games as possible against top notch teams. In the end the match was played amid a torrential downpour, plus thunder and lightning. So, in an eventful year, he played nine tournaments, won six of them and came runner-up in two. The competition was played over three days on two of the best golf courses in Cyprus. When United last played a semi-final in Manchester in 1998 there were two nights of trouble in the city. Omagh were forced to play three championship matches in eight days in October. Yet it was difficult not to feel sorry for Latvia, playing their first match in a major tournament. The surgery invigorated him so much that in his first year of retirement he played up to three rounds of golf per week. One feature common to all great teams is the ability to win when playing badly. However, despite playing rather poorly, they dug in and achieved an unlikely victory. Cork and Galway have played nine championship games between them. Before the new season Rovers will play up to eight friendlies, including games against Premier League teams Hearts and St Mirren. From start to finish, the 40-over contest was played under leaden skies and falling rain. The match was played in a very sporting spirit and both teams are to be complimented for this. In Barcelona the players will be playing at least five games The country's hockey team is currently playing a series of matches in Spain. The game will be played under floodlights, kicking off at 3pm. Chelsea's Claude Makelele has hinted he may have played his last match for France. He plays to win; that's why he is the great golfer he is. He has height and pace and is rated highly by the England management, but has not played a championship match since June. Synonyms take part in, participate in, engage in, be involved in, join in, compete in, do 2.2 Compete against (another player or team) in a sporting match. the team will play France on Wednesday Example sentencesExamples We traveled to different bowling centers, played different teams, and it was a lot of fun. At times you have to chop and change, particularly when you are playing good teams. Apparently the International Rugby Board think it's a good idea to have France play Ireland in Paris on Feb 14th. Horgan, Johns and Ward drop to the bench and Murphy has been relegated to the A team which plays South Africa in Limerick tonight. This division of parental loyalties has made it such that in sporting contests when England plays Germany, he is unsure of whom to barrack for. He is the only new cap in the team which plays Bangladesh in the opening Test of a two-Test series at Buffalo Park tomorrow. He plays a qualifier in the first round but must then get past two-time semi-finalist Todd Martin. We organised a staff volleyball team to play the senior team last week and we beat them! It is very rare that the defending champions play the team they wrested the trophy from in a World Cup finals. So Keighley were playing a team made up of a mixture of second and third players. In the Test matches, we are playing the second-ranked team in the world so that's very difficult in itself. Team USA plays China today, and Mendoza can hardly believe she is part of this. We need to be able to play these big teams and stay composed and hold onto the ball. My team plays his about 3 times a year, and every game is a barn burner and we take turns winning. We may just get a bit tense, and that comes down to inexperience, playing the best team in the world. In this instance, the fact that they will be playing a team they know very little about could work to their disadvantage. The only problem is that we are playing a top side away from home and that makes it even more difficult to get a result. It is never easy playing a team that is fighting relegation and has had two bad results on the spin. We had a loss to Italy and we came right back and played the home team Germany. The tournament is played on a round robin basis, with each team playing every other team. Synonyms compete against, contend against, oppose, take on, challenge, vie with, rival 2.3no object Be part of a team, especially in a specified position, in a sporting contest. he played in goal Example sentencesExamples It obviously did the trick, because I became a regular in the first team and went on to play for England. Juan Sebastian Veron is not the first member of his family to play for an English league team. Would he rather be playing for a more fashionable club, one at which it is easier to gain international selection? Now, because they have seen how I play for the national team, they have a new respect for British football. He now has it written into his club contract that he plays at No 10, and since he has enjoyed that continuity he has played very well indeed. He plays on the wing, but it was at fullback where he found his twinkling feet. More than anything, and certainly more than money, he wanted to play for England. The ultimate goal is to play for Scotland, but there are lots of things before that. It is important to have players in the England team who play regularly together at club level. He is 30 next month and might not have many more opportunities to play for England. He joined the national team and plays on behalf of his adopted country. Chopra may have been a revelation to many but not to those who have watched him play for his club or state. The boy has been playing for the Under- 18s this season, with just a couple of reserve starts. Edilson played up front in place of the suspended Ronaldinho. He plays at right-back or right wing-back, but he can also be played upfront. Peter Crouch comes on for Owen - if he gets booked, England will only have Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott to play up front in their quarter-final against Germany. Both are Manchester United supporters who dream of playing at Old Trafford one day. He also played in goal on the college team that won the Munster junior championship in 1994. Not only that, but he was asked to play in midfield rather than his usual central defensive position. He was a lovely kid and he's gone on to play for Northern Ireland and Wimbledon. 2.4 Strike (a ball) or execute (a stroke) in a game. was he in an offside position when his teammate played the ball? Example sentencesExamples Every time Patrick got anywhere near the opposition box he would freeze and not know where to play the ball. Deep inside stoppage time, substitute Matt Woolf played the ball over Bremner, picking out Kempster on the left. He is more in tune with what the coaches want, and he's playing the ball much better. Emre plays a cross-field ball from left to right. Ultimately, it will all boil down to how well and how frequently you play the ball with the middle of the bat. After tea Peterson and Kreusch batted carefully, taking the singles and playing each ball on its merit. However at 37 in the 11th over, Ramesh played an adventurous stroke and was bowled for 20. Brian Dunne played a good ball up the right wing to Gino O'Boyle and he crossed into the box where John Conlon got between two defenders to head home. They got stuck into us, they played the ball forward all the time. He missed a challenge and the ball was played through to the unmarked Karl Smith. Their right winger got past two of our defenders and played the ball into out box. Ian Harte played the ball down the left to Alan Smith. Trezeguet is caught marginally offside as Henry plays the ball through to him. They can play the ball up to the strikers, and not take too much risk going forward. Steven Gerrard plays a long ball from left to right, which Luis Garcia fails to control properly and immediately gives away. Hargreaves plays the ball into Pizarro on the edge of the Celtic box. James Keddy played the ball down the left wing for Robbie Doyle. He went back to the tee to play a provisional ball but then he found his original ball and he played that. The one consistent complaint about his batting is that he tries to play far too many shots. Our batsmen played too many shots square of the wicket off the new ball. 2.5no object, with adverbial (of a cricket ground) be in such condition as to have a specified effect on play. Example sentencesExamples The wicket wasn't playing that easily, but he knew which shots worked for him on that wicket and was able to adapt his game to that. They were invited to bat and scored six for 187, a seemingly fair target on a wicket that was playing well. The pitch was playing beautifully, but the bowlers stuck to their task. 2.6 Assign to take part in a match, especially in a specified position. the manager played his strongest side of the season Example sentencesExamples One alternative would be to play Danny up front if young Jon Cartledge settles at the back. Crewe boss Dario Gradi elected to play his strongest side last night and was rewarded with a half-time lead courtesy of a Rob Hulse goal. Dessie O'Malley, Dara Ainsworth, Daniel Fahy and Roger Clarke are all either injured or unavailable and manager Fergie McEllin may be forced to play midfielders up front. Perhaps he was wrong not to have played his chosen team before that game. When I came back from injury earlier this season, the gaffer took a chance on me and played me up front against Dundee United. Eriksson still has not worked out the best partnership to play up front. He was played in the wrong position and did not do too well, but as soon as he moved up front he has got better and better. The Indian tour selection committee played into their hands by playing just two fast bowlers. Advocaat tried playing him up front, but he only managed one goal in seven. Whether England manager Clive Woodward plays him at full-back, on the wing or even at centre on Saturday, he is a certain starter. At the moment, Fergie is experimenting with playing Scholes up front, just off the big striker, van Nistelrooy. Each of these three managers will play their first choice eleven whenever they can. He's another natural goal scorer, but Stalybridge have played him in midfield where I think he is wasted. Peru greatly altered their team selection and played a defender up front. The Giants were playing me out of position at second base, and the Pirates moved me back to third. Initially, he was played out of position at right-back. Woodward, desperate to get the best out of him, has played him in four positions. Playing him in that position helps us to play four bowlers and bat deeper down. He let it be known his complaint with Robson was that he was played out of position too often at Newcastle and it was affecting his England career. Aliadiere would have started and I wanted to play front him up, but he was sick. 2.7 Move (a piece) or display (a playing card) in one's turn in a game. he played his queen Example sentencesExamples Somebody always has to play the role of banker as well as playing their own piece. There may be cards left on the table after everyone has played their cards from the first deal. Each player has a hand of six cards, and a turn consists of replenishing your hand to six and then playing a card. Upon playing a card, his opponent must lay down all of his cards of the same suit and the same rank. Then, on each turn, everyone simultaneously plays a card from their hand. If you expose the queen of spades, then the first time that someone leads a spade you are not allowed to play the queen if you have other spades. If you have the Ace of trump, you are guaranteed to win the trick you play that in. Then she played the last card currently in her hand, which was a 6 of Diamonds, by the way. Note that the game very often ends in the middle before all the cards are played. 2.8 Bet or gamble at or on. he didn't gamble or play the ponies Example sentencesExamples Advertised as a game, the online lottery is ‘played’ by buying a free slip over the counter, which allows the buyer to play up to six boards, each priced at Rs.10. Even if you're not into playing the ponies, the setting is marvelous and it's a superb place for a picnic. I don't play the lotto and I avoid gambling at all costs. The club now allows women to play bingo on Sunday afternoons, but it still won't make us full members. Another important factor in playing the lottery is to play within your means. The money people spend playing the lottery keeps some of these taxes from going up. His happiness relies on a visit to the casino to play the slot machines. It was his first time at Fair Grounds but playing the ponies is nothing to new to him. Mary is not a gambler, but she is very lucky when she plays on the slot machines. 3no object, usually with negative Be cooperative. he needs financial backing, but the building societies won't play Example sentencesExamples The media got another warning from the White House this week: be careful what you do and say, or we won't play. If the lawyers had approved the meetings and then FBI had refused to play, the buck would have been passed to the Bureau. Synonyms cooperate, collaborate, play along, play the game, go along with the plan, show willing, be willing, help, lend a hand, assist, be of assistance, contribute, reciprocate, respond 4with object Represent (a character) in a theatrical performance or a film. early in her career she played Ophelia Example sentencesExamples So playing a Shakespearian character isn't too different, he tells Nick Curtis Tom Hanks plays six characters in this new animated movie by Robert Zemeckis. Hackman plays a wealthy lawyer who lives in Puerto Rico. Laurence Olivier plays Lord Nelson, and Vivien Leigh is Emma, Lady Hamilton, who becomes his lover. He plays the central character, and you can tell that he relishes his scenes with Kingsley. A devoted father in real life, here he is playing a young man who claims he has stayed in a loveless marriage for the sake of his child. Connolly plays a fisherman living in Australia, whose boat is struck by lightning. Laurence Olivier plays Crasius, the bisexual emperor, in this historical epic. He played Natalie Cole's manager in the made-for-TV movie based on the singer's life. The contraceptive pill had been made available for the first time a year earlier, Harold Macmillan was Prime Minister and Sean Connery played James Bond for the first time. In the film, John Huston plays an aging film director named Jake Hannaford in the declining years of his career. He plays characters his age and doesn't try to pretend he's 20 years younger than he actually is. In my next film I'm playing a really intense character and I'm nervous. The Australian actor plays a woman who believes her dead husband has been reincarnated in the body of a 10-year-old boy. In Noyce's film, Michael Caine plays the aging, indolent British journalist Thomas Fowler. But the main roles are all played by actors with little or no experience in westerns. Holly Hunter plays the evil work colleague who encourages Murphy's paranoia. He even appeared in movies, playing himself in For Those Who Think Young, a comedy about teenagers on Spring Break in Florida. Nhlanhla Lata, who began acting when he was 11, plays Michael, and Sam Mabona plays the stage manager. It's rather a relief to find that Langridge is nothing like most of the roles he plays on stage. Synonyms act the part of, play the part of, act, take the role of, enact, represent, perform, appear as, portray, depict, impersonate, pretend to be, execute, render, interpret rare personate 4.1no object Perform in a film or theatrical production. he was proud to be playing opposite a famous actor Example sentencesExamples In The Silver Fleet, she plays opposite another star of the London stage, Ralph Richardson. He has also played in Irish language productions at the Abbey Theatre. Taylor might as well have been playing opposite a wooden Indian for all the response she got from him. 4.2 Put on or take part in (a theatrical performance, film, or concert) the show was one of the best we ever played Example sentencesExamples He played a concert at the hall where I worked before I came here. They will play a concert at Bolton's Albert Halls on Saturday before the orchestra. Waterford is never far from his heart, however, and he usually plays at least one gig in his home city. The Monkees played a post-game concert there after a Rapids match. Kissin plays around 40 concerts a year, which is one possible explanation for the fact that he never seems to tire of playing the piano. The Rolling Stones played their debut concert at the Marquee club in London in 1962. Bryan Ferry is in Auckland at the moment playing concerts tomorrow and Sunday. Jools Holland is playing an open-air concert near Tunbridge Wells soon. She will also play her first concert in Wales at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on July 30. Shankar learned vocals from the age of two, violin from age five and played his first concert at seven. The Sligo trio have spoke several times of their burning desire to play a concert in their home town. As of this month, I've rejoined my old band as the drummer, and we'll be playing at least four shows in March. Their run came to a fitting climax last week when they played their final concert of the season to another full house. The Galway band continued to grow their fan base by playing gigs up and down the country, sometimes headlining, sometimes supporting. Not only is he alive, but he's healthy, just short of 60 and still playing packed-out concerts. Robbie had always wanted to be the first British artist to play a concert in the new Wembley Stadium when it opens next summer. The band recently played a concert at the Beacon Court Tavern in his home town of Gillingham. Retired John said: ‘Clare now lives in Bath but pops up to visit or stays with us when she's playing a concert up north.’ Hayes is due to play a concert at the House Of Blues in New Orleans tomorrow. Still, it could be a bit late to become interested in their music, since they've just played their last concerts. Synonyms put on, present, produce, give 4.3 Give a dramatic performance at (a particular theatre or place) the company are playing 11 cities around the country Example sentencesExamples Tonight he plays Glasgow for the first time in years, and I can't decide whether to go or not. Suzanne Vega plays the City Hall, Salisbury on 27 June. I played some fantastic theatres and worked with some great people. Then, at the end of the year, I'll be playing a few venues up and down the country, such as the Armadillo in Glasgow. Reynolds plays the Green Room Sunday night and the Railway Club on Wednesday. Having played both cities on numerous occasions, the differences are significant. He even found time to return to the US, playing venues down the East and West coast, from Boston to Los Angeles. He was sheer magic at Garter Lane on his previous visit and should not be missed when he plays the Theatre Royal. The brilliant Backbeat Beatles play the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth on Monday. Presumably he couldn't resist playing a home town gig on Good Friday, taking him home for the Easter hols. That line-up played Brixton Academy and a couple of other gigs until Mark left. It had been four years since Blur last played the capital, let us hope that the same amount of time does not have to elapse before the next batch of dates. This is the National Theatre's touring production - if it plays anywhere near you, do not miss it. I know that I'm going to be playing New York for sure. A man who holds a special place in the Irish comic imagination, Brendan always brings the house down in venues he plays around the world. I've just tried booking tickets to see Kraftwerk, as I heard they were playing Brixton Academy on 20th March next year. Next time they play their home town they deserve to be playing to a packed house. The days of playing unglamorous locations like the South Morang Hotel are all over. With another couple of live sets under their belts they played the Universe 2 party one year later. 4.4 Behave as though one were (a specified type of person) the skipper played the innocent, but smuggled goods were found on his vessel Example sentencesExamples She stood in the corner playing the shy bride in her long red bridal dress. But in the meantime John is more than happy to stay at home and play dad. His call for an early election was an attempt to play the hero again. A cynic would say that people enjoy playing the victim and jumping on the grief bandwagon, they enjoy the attention and the sympathy. Don't play the innocent with me, Gisela - you do this for your benefit as well as mine. As a young girl, Cora had always enjoyed playing the nurse for her brother or her cousins. 4.5play someone for Treat someone as being of (a specified type) don't imagine you can play me for a fool Example sentencesExamples She plays him for a fool, often feigning helplessness just to see what lengths he will go to in order to prove his love for her. Someone had played me for a sucker and I was going to make sure he - or she - paid for it. A councillor has accused a brewery of playing Bexley Council for a mug over a pub's opening hours. She and Bruce have been playing me for a fool since the beginning. Are you just playing Rob for a sucker, Amber? 5with object Perform on (a musical instrument) a man was playing a guitar Example sentencesExamples As a teenager he played guitar and harmonica with local bands and skiffle and rock ‘n’ roll groups. While Natalie was calling my mom, I heard someone start playing the drums really loud. Payne got his harmonica out and another guy was playing the piano. Her professional singing career started when a night club owner insisted that she either sang while she played piano, or lost her job. A short distance away from us there was a grand piano being played softly by a woman in a green dress. She was greatly impressed when she heard Len playing his guitar, and even more impressed with how he could play the piano. There are certain dogs that sing whenever someone plays an accordion or a harmonica. Hannah was playing the piano and singing when she heard a voice behind her. On Friday night we went to see a friend's band playing at a local pub. We seemed to like the same songs and besides, he played the guitar better than anyone else I knew. Big doors open on to a plant-filled terrace where a jazz band plays on Saturday evenings. In the meantime May taught at a school by day and played guitar by night. By the summer they were playing at all the major festivals. Their sons are still around a lot: Cameron, 22, a musician, is playing the piano when we arrive. Sandra would sit there on her bed for hours singing songs and playing her guitar like no one could stop her. He loved to play his guitar and harmonica and listen to gospel and bluegrass music. So, when I saw that David Crosby and Graham Nash were playing at the new concert hall I just booked tickets, knowing my parents would want to come. At a corner near the Peace Memorial, a group of musicians were playing the drums. The meal got off to a slightly odd note as a wandering band of minstrels invaded the restaurant and played accordion and guitar loudly. He was a keen musician and played the guitar in a local band. 5.1 Possess the skill of performing on (a musical instrument) he taught himself to play the violin Example sentencesExamples As well as playing the flute Rosie plays the piano, violin, guitar and sings. Justin s parents began to teach him how to play the piano and the flute when he was about eight years old. He taught himself how to play the guitar, and Clapton's ballad was the first song he learned. You might want to learn a new skill such as painting or playing a musical instrument, or consider taking up a new sport such as fishing or golf. Although singing or playing an instrument is a learned skill, it also is an art. I have always begged Nick to teach me to play the guitar but every time he has an excuse not to. I bought him a little drum kit and guitar and he could play the piano from when he was a toddler. Anxious for the boy's future, his father, William, taught him to play the piano from library books. Mr McGovern has written almost 70 songs and taught himself to play the guitar at 18. David was a natural musician who taught himself to play the piano after watching a female pianist at his local pub. Billy is still playing two nights a week and he taught his eight children to play musical instruments. I've been playing the piano and guitar since I was in the third grade and I turn 38 later this year. She has taught herself to play rhythm guitar and also plays piano and violin. Caleb has always had a passion for music and is learning to play the violin and bass guitar. Evora also plays the violin and performed in her high school's symphony for three years. He plays the piano and French horn and teaches music to help pay his way through uni. His mother, a middle school guidance counselor, plays both clarinet and violin. Franz learnt to play the piano and the violin from his father and brothers, and later the viola. As a young boy he played the flute, but later took up playing the violin. It was Max's grandpa who taught him to play the accordion and speak some Russian. Synonyms perform on, make music on blow, sound, strum 5.2 Produce (notes) from a musical instrument; perform (a piece of music) they played a violin sonata Example sentencesExamples You only have to listen to them play music and perform to see how good they are. This is a work for violin and piano, here played by Leopold Avakian and Mitchell Andrews. As we walked on stage for our first gig the crowd went wild - and we hadn't played a note. When you get there, a jazz group is quietly playing Scott Joplin to an appreciative audience lounging on the grass. They will be playing music by Bradford-born Frederick Delius among other composers. Inconspicuously, a three piece ensemble plays background music. As part of the service, Mr Needham's favourite piece of music was played. The group will play works by Mozart and Weber, and a selection of light classics. Pupils played classical pieces as well as songs from films and shows. They shared a love of music and they would play violin sonatas together, Einstein on the violin and Born on piano. They play the same pieces more than once in a season with different conductors. She sat down at the piano in front of her copy of the music and played a few random notes, humming along. A year later, she was playing the Bach Double Violin Concerto under Menuhin. Paddy, who is a noted musician, played a number of tunes on the violin and was in his usual good form. He plays Khachaturian's violin concerto next Friday in the opening concert of the NSO's national tour. Colin Dean played some pieces on the organ, notably a fantasia by Farnaby. The first piece was played so quietly and sensitively that it clearly affected the huge audience. They broke into spontaneous clapping, cheering and whistling when the Band of the Irish Guards played Happy Birthday for the Queen at the end of the parade as a surprise. The best pieces of American Jazz music will be played and performed on stage. The concertmaster played a note on his violin and Lev tuned his instrument to it. 5.3 Make (a disc, music player, or other device) produce sounds or recorded images. someone is playing a record—I can hear the drum Example sentencesExamples These re-enactments were videotaped and the videos were played in court. We can't even play the radio in our shop without the Peforming Rights Society wanting a royalty from it. Write in to any radio stations you know of and demand that they play this record. On the coach back we came down gently while listening to the cricket that the driver insisted on playing on the radio. They don't want the ice cream man in their neighborhood because the music he plays wakes up their kid. I am making a great big mental note to play this album an awful lot more than I normally do. And a third of adults use digital, satellite and cable TV to play the new radio stations. He insists on leaving one overcrowded ruin of an apartment building because another refugee plays his radio too loudly. Others suggest that if a major artist did record a protest song, no US radio station would play it. I mean nobody plays my records any more… I've got this single coming out right, and who's gonna play it? She could faintly hear the radio being played and Shawn humming to the beat. Still, I didn't really want to be there listening to the DJs playing records, I wanted to see the main act. Local radio stations are also interested in playing her work, which Sam compares in style with that of Alanis Morissette. She plays a few tracks from Sao Vicente Di Longe, an album by a Cape Verde singer called Cesaria Evora. Mr Warren said that it had been proposed to play the video without the sound. By 9 pm, I had watched a dvd and played some records, and I was ready for something else. A number of new tracks were also played, including the impressive Blonde Ambition. They don't stay up all night playing rather loud music, and banging all the house doors. Sometimes, just every now and again they play a track I actually like. She spent half a day explaining The Beatles to me and playing me their music. I played the title track again and again, drugged up to the eyeballs on morphine. 5.4no object (of a musical instrument, music player, or other device) produce sounds or recorded images. somewhere within, a harp was playing some of the videos are playing without sound with object from behind the curtains an organ played a jolly tune Example sentencesExamples He tilts his head to one side, listening to music playing in the shop. He leaves the front door slightly ajar to hear the early Dylan and Stones records playing from inside. The National Anthem plays over the sound system. Bright Eyes was playing over the sound system and I felt much better, despite being soaked to the bone. He lights a cigarette, and as the song plays on the radio, he questions his life - Was his daddy right, is he wasting his life? The short-wave radio was playing a soft sound from the American Music Network. The jukebox is playing Jazz music and musical notes seem to be floating through the room. We then walked in silence to the studio, where the last record was still playing. Some kind of Indian stringed instrument is playing quietly over loudspeakers, adding a hint of exoticism. The organ started playing as we entered, and the sound was truly heavenly. He pauses to savour the Kylie Minogue song playing over the bar sound system. 5.5with object and adverbial of direction Accompany (someone) with music as they are moving in a specified direction. the bagpipes played them out of the dining room Example sentencesExamples Brother James, would you play the girls in please? The procession then moved on the Town Hall to be played in by a pianist performing the ‘Uist Tramping Song’. 6no object Move lightly and quickly, so as to appear and disappear; flicker. little beams of light played over the sea Example sentencesExamples He shook his head, a tiny smile playing over his lips. Hope pulled back to look at him for a second, a soft smile playing across her lips. A grim smile played briefly on his lips and she knew she wasn't fooling him one bit. A weak beam of light suddenly played round the bar, as Diane returned with a torch, and a lantern with a tea light. A smile played across her lips as she thought of telling Randy she would be leaving soon. His soft babyish snores caused her heart to melt and a light smile played upon her lips. She stirred in her sleep at this, and he chuckled a little, his hand still playing lightly over her hair. Pulling the door shut behind her, she leaned against it, a light smile playing across her lips. A small smile played across his lips as he saw her standing awkwardly by the door. Multicolored lights played over the audience, and a disco ball hung in the middle of the ceiling. The dim light of dawn played lightly on the morning dew which had gathered on the window glass over night. I stopped in front of our garden and Robert stopped as well, a smile playing upon his lips. Underneath the floppy hair and the trademark goatee, there is a smile playing on his lips, a twinkle in his eye. I peeked around the corner of the alleyway and spotted some shadows playing across the ground via the moonlight. But what was so cool was this little smile playing constantly on his lips, as though he was having a private joke inside his head. Alexandra's face held an innocent expression, a faint smile playing across her lips. I looked at Chris out of the corner of my eye and saw that he had a satisfied smile playing across his lips. His eyes showed an active intelligence and a wry smile played across his lips. The light from the torches played across her face as she drifted into slumber. She turned to her brother, who had a small smile playing across his lips. Synonyms move lightly, dance, flit, dart, ripple, lick, touch 6.1 (of a fountain or similar source of water) emit a stream of gently moving water. a fountain played in the courtyard Example sentencesExamples The garden was beautiful, plants and shrubs tumbling around a vibrant lawn in the centre of which a fountain tinkled and played. In the centre of the lush garden, an elaborate marble fountain played, spraying sparkling jewels of water into the air. The lawns are mown, the box hedge parterres are neatly clipped and the central fountain plays gently in the sunshine. 7with object Allow (a fish) to exhaust itself pulling against a line before reeling it in. no fisherman ever played a bonita more carefully or with greater wile Example sentencesExamples We spotted that the boat nearest to us had an angler playing a fish and that same fish leapt right in front of our path. Noel was very unlucky not to catch the larger pike as he had played the fish well. Holding the rod high whilst playing a fish is often a recipe for disaster, especially when the fish is close to the boat. Remember the whole rod should be used in playing the fish. It wasn't long before a fish appeared and I soon was playing my second fish of the day. noun pleɪpleɪ mass noun 1Activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children. a child at play may use a stick as an aeroplane Example sentencesExamples A picnic area alongside is a great place to sit and relax whilst watching the animals at play. I could see small disturbances on the water where schools of fish were at play. The Artist's Studio provides an intimate portrait of him at work and at play. You'll notice she still enjoys very active play and will love running around the playground or park. In any case, children can learn a great many social skills by watching animals at play. It was a peaceful, innocent scene, two families at play and celebrating a holiday that meant everything to them. Their archive, now in the National Library, features many images of the little girls at play. It elicits an almost nostalgic mood and has many fine shots of shops, pubs and children at play. In play, children create an imaginary situation in which rules of behaviour are formulated. A person may prefer to work with an intense dedication that precludes recreation and play. He certainly doesn't bring to mind the stuffy polo and shooting image of British royalty at play. The current school is in an extended house and has very small classrooms and little space for outdoor play for the children. The children introduced themselves through song and words and we watched them at play. There's a pause in the game, and the TV begins showing cute little kittens at play. Play areas, and the equipment in them, should be developed to encourage adventurous play. The 2,000 parents surveyed said their children were losing the art of inventive, imaginative play. Youngsters in a Bradford village are calling for more play activities to help cut vandalism. The Playstore is your best source for quality wooden and natural toys for creative and imaginative play. While at play, toddlers and young children are usually in the care of older siblings. The sounds of children at play can be heard. Synonyms amusement, entertainment, relaxation, recreation, enjoyment, pleasure, diversion, distraction, leisure, fun, games, fun and games playfulness, horseplay, skylarking, larks, a good time, jollification, junketing, merrymaking, revelry informal living it up dated sport 1.1 Behaviour or speech that is not intended seriously. I flinched, but only in play Example sentencesExamples Gordy and Stevie were fighting, but Rhiannon knew it was only in play. Teach kids to respect the cat, and do not allow them to chase or corner the cat even in play. 1.2as modifier Designed to be used in games of pretence; not real. play families are arranged in play houses 2The conducting of a sporting match. rain wrecked the second day's play Example sentencesExamples In the second half, play was constantly disrupted by both sides making a number of substitutions. The Regiment formed a guard of honour before today's play commenced. In addition, cricket has breaks in play between overs every three or four minutes. During the interval the referee walked the pitch trying to decide whether there was enough light for play to continue. Schofield looked less assured when he finally came on to bowl, going for nine runs in his only over before bad light ended play. The game opened in the same vein as it was to continue with the play constantly interrupted by fouls. Ingrow St John's looked to be coasting to victory at home to Chatburn when play was interrupted. They were up against it in this match too, conceding a goal after just 35 seconds of play. The first day's play on Friday was restricted to 10.2 overs. For the first day golfers played 18 holes to determine their placing on the second day of play. England was 80 for one when bad light finally halted a frustrating day's play with 30 overs still remaining. After two hours and 17 minutes of play the match was abandoned with Greenock on 136 for three. The first half took time to catch fire as play was constantly interrupted by the referee's whistle. Incidentally Kim has gone down clutching his ankle so there's going to be a break in play. Germany's thoughtful coach Rudi Voller used the break in play to throw water-bottles to his players. However he is not very sympathetic when describing poor skill on the field of play. He bowled his heart out and all credit to him for livening up the final day's play. Each day's play starts at 10 am. Players cannot touch the sides or floor of the pool, and must tread water even when not involved in play. He did admit that he had felt in charge of the match before play was halted. 2.1 The action or manner of engaging in a sport or game. he maintained the same rhythm of play throughout the game Example sentencesExamples The wind was making it difficult for both sides and the quality of play did not match that of the first half. Today, we have got used to watching almost constant attacking play. Then in the final minutes of the match some good driving play by Athy saw Gorey concede a penalty. For many years they were treated to glorious attacking play which won football matches. There was zest and quick movement to United's play despite spells of control by Rangers. Saturday's match had plenty of open play but solid defences proved hard to breach at both ends of the pitch. There was a slightly frantic, nervous element to their play after they conceded a needless goal. Their half-back followed up a good break and saw his support play rewarded with the try. His balance is good, his footwork is excellent and his offensive play is there for all to see - it has been superb. He has good speed, but he needs to avoid the silly mistakes that have plagued his play. The crowds in the St Jakobshalle took instantly to Murray's style of play and his expressive personality. This year, though, he has wisely kept his mouth shut and let his play do the talking. His play in October has enhanced his standing as one of the game's top young hitters. The visitors just about deserved their victory for their more incisive back play. The referee had very little to do in this match such was the standard of play and sportsmanship. He had eight doubles, a triple and two home runs in his first month of major league play. The first half was close with neither side gaining dominance in any area of play. Superb play by Dave Armstrong earned him the man of the match award and a goal. I think our style of play means we always risk conceding goals but we try to mitigate that with good attacks. With play moving fast up and down field the defences on each side were getting the better of the forward lines. 2.2 The status of the ball in a game as being available to be played according to the rules. the ball was put in play Example sentencesExamples Windass kept the ball in play and ferried it back to Morrison but there was no conviction about his shot. He walks off the pitch to get treatment, Nigeria kick the ball out of play so he can come back on. It was struck well but the ball hit the cross bar and bounced back into play. For example, the rules of tennis clearly specify when a ball is in play and when it is out of play. Sure, there may be a few more aces than in the past, but a lot more balls are put back into play too. But it was nice to get hold of the ball as quickly as possible and get it back into play. Greece sportingly kick the ball out of play as the duo try to clear their heads. From the free, the ball goes out of play for an Irish throw deep inside their own half. David Hagen knocked the ball out of play but inexplicably a corner, not a goal kick, was awarded. So why not let the computer decide when a ball is in play and keep time for us. Irwin had already been booked for a foul when he played on after the ball was judged to have gone out of play. Emre goes down injured and the ball is put out of play so that he can receive treatment. The ball goes out of play and he gets to his feet with the air about him of a man who'd settle for a corner. If a ball runs out of play or into the goal, the ref is alerted by a device on his wrist. All three hit cracking drives, and all three were reduced to hacking their second shots back into play. It just puts too much of a demand on the rest of your game, so you have to keep the ball in play. The free-kick ends up being played into the corner, but Onder Turaci fails to keep it in play. Those who struggle to get a ball airborne or keep it in play should probably think twice. Prop Howard Carr kicked a penalty into touch and the ball bounced back into play after hitting a tree. The ball was on the verge of going out of play, so the angle was rather narrow. 2.3 The state of being active, operative, or effective. someone has a bright idea and decides to put it into play the forces of a worldwide economy are in play Example sentencesExamples There are a number of factors at play here, just one of which is the fact that eating badly is cheaper, unfortunately. The choices are his to make, but the forces at play in his life are far beyond his control. There are, of course, a number of policy considerations in play here, some in conflict. The enemy artillery comes into play and a hail of bullets starts to rain down. Once your income exceeds this tax-free figure, a series of tax bands then comes into play. I personally think that the whole argument about civil liberties comes into play again. The fitness we worked so hard on, that's when it all comes into play, when the season gets gruelling. He has been guilty of significant mistakes; but there is another agenda at play here. It was a compelling theory, but Sarah was well aware that there had been other factors in play. But there was more than thwarted ambition and ministerial rivalry at play here. It is only when more than two teams finish level on points and they have all beaten one another that run rate comes into play. The most likely explanation is that all of these factors were in play. Bravery and heroism come into play when a person potentially puts the safety of others before their own. The US Government's Bureau of Labor says there may be unusual seasonal factors at play in the figures. This is where personal campaigning by influential people here comes into play. It only leaves the cynics to presume that maybe other motives are in play. So much for the various competing, and conflicting interests that are in play. I suspect there is an element of wounded national pride at play here. For those who like to invest, the shares part of the ISA comes into play. The Corsa comes with electric power steering, which only comes into play when needed. Synonyms action, activity, operation, movement, motion, agency, employment, working, function, functioning, exercise, interaction, interplay 2.4count noun A move or manoeuvre in a sport or game. the best play is to lead the 3 of clubs Example sentencesExamples They were one or two plays away from winning all three games. Try and get some of the young players in the league to sit around after a game and rehash the plays. But Woodson is getting more chances to make big plays in the passing game this season. There were some exceptional fielding plays on both sides in this game. His playing time has been reduced to about 20 plays per game, mostly on passing downs. The truly great players make critical defensive plays, hit big shots and hit crucial free throws down the stretch. When the ball is in flight, he has a history of attacking it and making the big play. He always makes the right play, and he even makes the plays you don't think he can make. That's what is most important to them - having a field that helps them make the plays that win the game. He has good vision and hockey sense, and he can make plays and score big goals. They are making the skilled, individual plays the team has been lacking the past few years. Young and Rice hook up for a 44-yard touchdown on the third play from scrimmage. Don't try new shots, plays, or moves in the heat of battle, especially if you haven't practiced them. The players had been told and shown all Salford's inside plays around the rucks and they knew how to counteract them. He must prove to scouts he can stay healthy and give a solid effort on every play. At moments in a game great plays are needed, no matter what the defense, and the superstar shifts gears. It's the most exciting play for a catcher, and when you do it and do it right, it feels good. He makes good adjustments to the ball and seems to be in on every play from scrimmage. On one play, he got the ball on the right side and began dribbling toward the baseline. He is strong enough to play off blocks and make plays in the running game and agile enough to be an asset in coverage. Synonyms turn, go 2.5archaic The activity of gambling. a young nobleman, ruined by play Example sentencesExamples A gentleman complained to Talleyrand of having been insulted by a charge of cheating at play. 3count noun A dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast. the actors put on a new play Example sentencesExamples The couple have attended the Christmas plays at the school every year since Daniel was five. A short season of lunchtime performances will begin this July with a play by Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor. He has written two children's plays entitled the Brown Man and the Donkey Prince. Its lively resident theater group stages musicals, plays, readings, and concerts here all year. I went to see a double bill of two plays by Harold Pinter. Her career has included stage roles in plays by Shakespeare, Chekhov and Ibsen. Noel Coward's Private Lives is one of those plays beloved of amateur dramatic societies. From creating skits, he moved into writing one-act plays and finally into creating full-length dramas. It is a dark play about a married couple who try to deal with the death of their son. The group have staged many fine plays and performances here in the past. At the close of the play resolutions are being made, and new friendships look to have a promising future. This Pinter play lives up to the writer's reputation for delivering tightly crafted plays with unexpected twists. The play sums up all of the uncertainty of the age, while at the same time bringing the issues and ideas of 18th century England right up to date. The Globe Theatre is a reconstruction of the theatre in which Shakespeare's plays were originally staged. In 1913, she found a job on the Winnipeg Telegraph and also appeared in a number of plays at the local theatre. The future of an ambitious project to stage all the Shakespeare plays is in doubt after the resignation of its director. The show was picked as one of the top ten plays at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival when it was first performed there. The association of music and drama goes back all the way to ancient Greece with the plays of Euripides and Sophocles. Theatregoers have a choice of two plays on most nights with opportunities to see the entire programme in just one week. Akira Kurosawa made three films based on Shakespeare plays. Synonyms drama, stage play, stage show, theatrical work, theatrical piece, radio play, television play, teleplay, screenplay, comedy, tragedy, farce, sketch production, performance, spectacle, show 4The space in or through which a mechanism can or does move. the steering rack was loose, and there was a little play Example sentencesExamples The action is smooth, the cylinder locks up tightly with very little play, and the trigger pull is light and crisp. Since then there's been a lot of play in the steering. Synonyms movement, freedom of movement, free motion, slack, give room to manoeuvre, room to operate, scope, latitude, elbow room, space, margin 4.1 Scope or freedom to act or operate. our policy allows the market to have freer play Example sentencesExamples It also recognises the fact that the free play of markets creates problems for society. Synonyms scope, range, latitude, liberty, licence, freedom, indulgence, free rein, release 5Light and constantly changing movement. the artist exploits the play of light across the surface Example sentencesExamples Be sure to visit at different times of the day and evening to enjoy the play of light. The work conveys a subtle depth and a play of light worthy of a Morandi still life. But this simply melts into a soft play of colours and light as you enter the chapel. He stopped and leaned over the bridge wall to watch the play of light on the river. But you also want to create a play of light and shade on the objects before you, revealing depth, form and mood. The deliberate use of an uneven surface allows for the greater play of light. Once lighted, it gives out a kaleidoscopic effect from the play of light on the designs. He frequently focuses on faces and uses the play of light and shadow to potent effect. You talk a lot about landscape and beauty and the play of light on the northern hills. The play of light through the space has overtones of spirituality and introspection. For a filmmaker there are no more basic elements at work than the play between light and shade. He was the first photographer really to capture the play of light in interior settings. Phrases bring (or call) into play Cause something to start working so that one can make use of it. he cannot afford to bring into play the kind of leadership veto that operated all those years ago Example sentencesExamples The organizational genius of Lazare Carnot was brought into play to help turn a revolutionary rabble into a properly equipped fighting force. Of course in order to do all of this, a Digital Rights Management regime has to be brought into play that doesn't rely on locking down music. These disciplinary procedures can be brought into play even where a patient has not suffered because of the breach of confidence. In December 2003 new technology was brought into play to fight the battle of icy roads. The fall-out will be even worse should the not proven verdict be called into play. Assessments by psychologists with a specialty in end-of-life issues could be brought into play. Here the entire information base of the tradition is likely to be called into play, by both opponents and supporters of the tradition. It is not unusual at Celtic Park for the services of a behavioural expert to be brought into play, although this is normally for the study of referees. Extra pairs of hands have been brought into play to ensure a North Yorkshire historic hall is safely ‘put to bed’ for the winter. All of his secretarial skills were called into play on this occasion however as young people crowded around him, all wanting to be registered quickly and get on the water. Synonyms use, employ, exercise, make use of, utilize, avail oneself of, put to use bring into play, bring into service, arouse, generate, induce, cause, resort to, awaken, deploy, waken, excite, incite, provoke, foment, prompt, stimulate, stir up, impel, galvanize, urge, encourage, inspire, whip up come into play Becoming active, operative, or effective. luck comes into play Example sentencesExamples Adding to the complexity, state ethics rules also come into play. All variety of perceptual illusion comes into play to cover up the flaws in the technology. Proximity doesn't come into play in the case of Japan, which produces 5 million of our visitors. Then moral factors come into play - which, for some people, is too much to cope with. Most notably, at least two helicopters that have rescue hoists, you know, which obviously could come into play. The concern for our joint responsibility to encourage rehabilitation should come into play in borderline cases. I just thought there would be quite a bit of reporting whether or not that law would come into play here. There comes a point in the refurbishment process where the law of diminishing returns come into play. This is where personal campaigning by influential people here comes into play. Throughout my course of investigation, I have seen this tenet come into play many times. make a play for informal Attempt to attract or attain. we invited men to make a play for the award she started to make a play for the young man Example sentencesExamples Jim Moran of Virginia is making a play for the leadership. Kerry Gill, the editor of the Scottish edition of the Daily Express, last night lashed out at a rival paper for making a play for his readers. Waterford Wedgwood has said it has no intention yet of making a play for the company itself but many analysts believe it would use its sizeable stake to block anyone else getting their hands on it. You'll never believe who Trina Matheson made a play for! ‘Developers are making a play for downtown residential space, taking advantage of of tax incentives and loans from the city of Jacksonville,’ the report says. The buying spree lasted from October 2004 to January 2005 and Mr Lynch's activity convinced analysts he was attempting to make a play for the group. But he withdrew from consideration, making a play for a position of vice president instead. He was talking to other friends when he noticed another man making a play for his girlfriend. The poor chap's probably aching for a spot of home cooking and, if you ask him for a meal with one or two others, he needn't feel you're making a play for him. Speaking only for myself, I can't imagine making a play for a straight guy. Synonyms make sexual advances to, make advances to, make sexual overtures to, proposition, make a sexual approach to make (great) play of (or with) Draw attention to in an ostentatious manner, typically to gain prestige or advantage. the company made great play of their recent growth in profits Example sentencesExamples They made great play of the fact they've spent £300,000 on redecorating the place. McConnell has made great play of promising that the extra £3.2bn invested in the Scottish health service over the next five years will not simply be a blank cheque. He makes great play of his non-establishment (meaning non-public school, and non-Oxbridge) background. For all their perceived monetary difficulties, Hibs continue to make great play of plans to build two football academy-type centres, though both proposals are proceeding slowly. The revised figure is an embarrassment for the Government, which has made great play of its success in bringing the backlog down from a record high of 103,000 at the start of last year. He even makes great play of the fact that he used to be right-wing. The US, British, Japanese, Canadian and European governments all made great play of their desire to help the world's poorest countries. In November 2002, the UK media made great play of the fact that a passenger was able to travel to Zambia on her husband's passport. Hostile contemporary commentators naturally made great play with alleged waste at court, castigating a spendthrift queen Marie-Antoinette in particular. Both reported strong results but, more significantly, made play of the fact that they are the kind of company clients turn to during a downturn because they supply more ‘cost-effective’ solutions. make play with Treat frivolously. leaders should not make play with values and ideals play both ends against the middle Keep one's options open by supporting or favouring opposing sides. Example sentencesExamples Like him, he was a brilliant speaker and lawyer and played both ends against the middle. The only catch is that Stoker's been losing so many fights that his manager - playing both ends against the middle - doesn't feel compelled to let Stoker know he's been contracted to take a dive in the third round. Big Oil is hardly blameless and at the start was no doubt trying to play both ends against the middle. It is critical that the parents develop a civil means of communication, such as by e-mail or communication book, or Alex will take advantage of the lacuna to play both ends against the middle. He is trying to play both ends against the middle. How do you know that he's not playing both ends against the middle? play something by ear 1Perform music without having to read from a score. she could play both by ear and by reading Example sentencesExamples Almost every Kazak knows how to sing and play a musical instrument by ear. Later on, I discovered I could play the piano by ear and it became my passion. Today he still can't read music; he plays instruments by ear. He taught himself to play a bit by ear, amused the rowdy crowds, and picked up small change. He learned to play the piano by ear, developing a talent for improvisation which, years later, he would put to good use during the filming of America: A Personal History of the United States. For relaxation he played the piano by ear, favouring Chopin's Etudes. Have you truly achieved mastery of your instrument if you cannot play it by ear? He was born into a family of musicians, and by the age of four he could play any tune by ear. 1.1informal Proceed instinctively according to results and circumstances rather than according to rules or a plan. we'll just have to play it by ear until we can get something definite sorted out Example sentencesExamples Unless you're specifically dating to get married, or you have some sort of long-term plan from the start, isn't a lot safer to play it by ear? Though his parents believe studies and going to a university are important, they are going to play it by ear. We'll play quite a lot of tunes from the latest LP, but usually we play it by ear and see how the gig's going and then throw in some tracks from the older albums. I can't predict how it's going to go, though, so I'll just play it by ear. We haven't got any plans as yet, and we don't know when the next thing will be and we're just kind of playing it by ear. That's a decision for the future, and we'll play it by ear. I haven't made any decisions; I'm just going to play it by ear. ‘There are storms forecast for later in the week but we are just playing it by ear,’ said trainer Michael Jarvis. I'm not sure what's on the itinerary; we'll just play it by ear; might visit a gallery, go for something to eat, etc. We are just playing it by ear and waiting to see what is going to happen. Synonyms improvise, extemporize, rise to the occasion, ad lib improvise, extemporize, ad lib play by one's own rules Act as one chooses, rather than following convention. a maverick cop who plays by his own rules Example sentencesExamples The commercial portrays him as an imperious billionaire who plays by his own rules. She obviously has a warm relationship with the president but is known for playing by her own rules. The move allows him to legitimately work from outside the system and play by his own rules. The local authorities find it might just be best to let him play by his own rules. For better or worse, he has always played by his own rules, no matter how ridiculous it's made him look. He was a man out of control trying to make sense of what he did by playing by his own rules. The teenage thug is determined to play by his own rules and he continues to break things, steal cars, huff glue. He plays by his own rules, and that ultimately may be the personality trait that overrides his talent. Other cops are actually working with him for once, instead of branding him as a maverick "cowboy" playing by his own rules. I have this one idea about a cop who's about to get thrown off the force, because he plays by his own rules. play by the rules Follow what is generally held to be the correct line of behaviour. journalists who refused to play by the rules Example sentencesExamples They feel betrayed because they work hard and play by the rules and expect a fair chance to compete in the world economy. The role of an umpire and a judge is critical to make sure everybody plays by the rules. The system should be there for people who are playing by the rules - if they can work they should, if they can't we look after them as a community. Compulsory schooling defines good citizens as those who play by the rules, stay in line, and do as they're told. Capone is a Jamaican cop who refuses to play by the rules. He defended the £20,000 poured into the marginal seats of Romsey and Eastleigh by party treasurer Lord Ashcroft for campaigns, saying the party was playing by the rules and not using an unfair advantage. To win in a competition, it is often necessary to avoid playing by the rules. Michael Buchan claims that he and his fellow Scottish white fish producers are being penalised for playing by the rules. The belief that if one works hard and plays by the rules, one will have a reasonable chance of succeeding as a child and an adult (the American Dream) is a central organizing and motivating force in our society. If it became too difficult to obtain parole then they could create a faction of dissident prisoners who will see no incentive in playing by the rules and addressing their offending behaviour. Synonyms play fair, be fair, play by the rules, abide by the rules, follow the rules, conform, be a good sport, toe the line, keep in step play fair Observe principles of justice; avoid cheating. he decided to play fair and own up Example sentencesExamples To Sam this wasn't playing fair, but they soon found out that despite clauses in the contract of sale that forbade such enterprises there was pragmatically not much they could do. IOC president Jacques Rogge encouraged athletes to play fair. To continue the footballing analogy, it is like asking footballers to sign a formal declaration before each game that they will not cheat and will always play fair. It was maddening to see skiers I knew to be playing fair, guys who trained their hearts out with little financial reward, lose to the cheaters. There is in fact no yardstick by which one country can be judged to be playing fair in its trade relations with others. That's a big boast, but the bill does not contain that much by way of safeguards for punters, and there is nothing at all to say that bookmakers must play fair by clients, even those who win. But over the past fortnight, Hunter and Gorman have been reduced to defending their integrity and business dealings against accusations that they failed to play fair. If they broke rules, why should we now be expected to play fair? We believe our customers want the security of a bank which is here for the long term, which plays fair and has no nasty surprises up its sleeve. An African sugar farmer has visited Manchester to try to persuade traders and politicians to play fair when buying his produce. Synonyms play fair, be fair, play by the rules, abide by the rules, follow the rules, conform, be a good sport, toe the line, keep in step play someone false Deceive or cheat someone. the Assembly played us false his memory plays him false if he thinks I chose this post Example sentencesExamples Sophia now sees that he has played her false. He is not her true love. His post-1934 correspondence and memoirs frequently contradict reliable accounts of the period, and the conclusion that his memory played him false on numerous occasions is inescapable. Synonyms betray, cheat, defraud, trick, hoodwink, mislead, deceive, swindle, break one's promise to, be disloyal to, be unfaithful to, break faith with, play false, fail, let down play fast and loose Behave irresponsibly or immorally. I am not someone who plays fast and loose with other people's lives Example sentencesExamples This is the norm in overseas universities, where academics caught making up ‘evidence,’ doctoring lab results and playing fast and loose with the facts get into an awful lot of trouble. It appears that someone was playing fast and loose with the facts. Practicing cheap and dirty politics, playing fast and loose with the facts and even lying: Accusations like these, and worse, have been slung nonstop this year. Like Atkinson he will risk abuse if he plays fast and loose with the story. As a historian and also a lover of the arts, Marshall has no problem with Schiller's playing fast and loose with the facts. This film about the Latin American revolutionary plays fast and loose with the facts. Many people around Scotland's coasts have done very nicely for decades out of taking too many fish from the sea, failing to plan for stock regeneration and playing fast and loose with European fisheries quotas. Meanwhile, Chris, one of his students, is blazing away at his own novel, a historical saga that plays fast and loose with the facts about Mary, Queen of Scots. You already noted that Moore plays fast and loose with the facts, and mildly criticized him for it. While on the topic of movies; Ridley Scott's latest movie venture on the Crusades has earned him the the ire of history academics who have accused him of playing fast and loose with the truth. Synonyms trifle, toy, play, amuse oneself, flirt, play fast and loose, tinker, philander, womanize, carry on play favourites Show favouritism towards someone or something. the Soviet diplomat said he wasn't playing favourites in the presidential campaign Example sentencesExamples She didn't play favourites: she treated me just as she would any of her other students, calling on me to answer questions, say words. I think the publisher is just playing favourites and I'm very offended. It was announced only that the climate in the team was not good, and that he had played favourites with some players. They crowded around her, and Koko, who plays favourites, asked one woman wearing red to come closer. How could I ever play favourites between these two. I won't start naming them cause I don't want to play favourites. ‘I'm the prime minister of Australia, you have to understand I don't play favourites between different parts of the country, ‘he said.’ People were swearing at me the whole time and accusing me of playing favourites. Many smash repairers say the insurance companies are going too far, and playing favourites, even amongst the preferred repairers. You could tell the teacher played favourites, and that I wouldn't be one of them. play for time Use specious excuses or unnecessary manoeuvres to gain time. he played for time by establishing an advisory committee Example sentencesExamples They could opt to follow the tobacco industry and play for time, which you'd have to say has worked out very well for tobacco firms. And he played for time, urging the U.S. to be patient. De Lancourt played for time, telling his creditors that he was expecting a £1000 bank draft - any day. I would urge Bolton Council to tell the developers to stop playing for time, get this through the planning committee once and for all, and reject this application in any form. Many commentators believe the Government is simply playing for time. It is possible that investors who rejected its advances on Friday were merely playing for time given that there is a bid on the table, and maybe a higher one to follow. Instead he reaches for his glass, hoping to play for time - and to get some courage from the wine. The Government - pleading realpolitik, invoking the national interest and playing for time - seem to have pacified, at least on the surface, an angry public. Was there anything to be gained by playing for time, trying to learn more of what he might be facing? They're playing for time and our position is they should not be allowed to do that. Synonyms use delaying tactics, stall, temporize, gain time, hang back, hang fire, hold back, procrastinate, beat about the bush, drag one's feet, delay, filibuster, stonewall play a (or one's) hunch Make an instinctive choice. it had only been a shot in the dark—playing a hunch, really Example sentencesExamples ‘So what it all comes down to is, you're playing a hunch, Gov?’ said Smith. When that webpage was completely open, Brant found the site's search engine and played his hunch. Go ahead, play your hunch, take the chance, ‘This is no time for playing a hunch,’ Warren warned. Just playing a hunch, but I think that might be our boy. But there will be occasions when they play a hunch or follow an adventurous whim. play oneself in Become accustomed to the circumstances and conditions of a game or activity. once he had played himself in he was an excellent stroke-maker Example sentencesExamples Having played himself in, however, he began to turn what had been a one - sided game into a real contest. It's good for people who want to watch a game after work, but I think the art of batting is to work out the pitch and play yourself in. The Scotland duo have already displayed the shrewdness of Greenock's recruitment policy with a string of impressive performances and both men once again looked in the mood as they played themselves in against the visiting attack. From the start Stoehr looked nervous and rather than play herself in with some long length rallies, she was shooting from the beginning with the usual results. Look to play yourself in - that's what I constantly keep telling myself these days. In the circumstances, Jayawardene and Nawaz were forced to play themselves in cautiously, with the inevitable result of a drop in the scoring rate. Lambert played himself in, then delivered his six. Scott, the young amateur, played himself in steadily before opening out with a string of sparkling strokes. We try to stick with people to give them a chance to play themselves in but if someone is not producing what we need we will have to make changes. Instead of allowing Hamilton the time to play himself in, he was discarded immediately in the aftermath of the Wanderers debacle, notwithstanding overwhelming evidence that his team-mates had also let themselves down. Synonyms adapt, adjust, accommodate, familiarize, acclimatize, accustom, attune, habituate, condition, find one's feet play into someone's hands Act in such a way as unintentionally to give someone an advantage. they accused him of playing into the hands of the enemy Example sentencesExamples When I won, it was blowing a howling gale in the first round, really tough, and that played into my hands. I fear I may already be playing into their hands by writing this and giving them more publicity, but I couldn't be silent. I think that we are playing into his hands, I don't think that a man like this should be given air time. Most drivers and team engineers believe that Ferrari's advantage was exaggerated because the cool weather in Melbourne played into their hands. The American captain, Curtis Strange, may have unwittingly played into Torrance 's hands. Their forwards did not appear to be of true world class, but France were so hopeless that they played into New Zealand 's hands. The SNP believes that the First Minister has blundered by playing into their hands. When his family rowed with him, he simply began spending even more time with Eyre, playing into his hands. We really gave the ball away far too much and, in the end played into Middlesbrough 's hands. Half way through the third race there was no way I thought I would win but suddenly everything started playing into my hands and I took advantage. play it cool informal Make an effort to be or appear to be calm and unemotional. the band wanted the deal badly, but were determined to play it cool Example sentencesExamples Chantelle's heart jumped into her throat but she played it cool. Nevertheless Phil and I absolutely fell for each other but for once in my life I played it cool. I was trying to play it cool, but once we'd landed and were whisked away to our Grandstand seats, I degenerated into excited schoolboy mode. I fell for her too quickly, really, and she played it cool in them days. Obviously I knew what they were talking about but I tried to play it cool, in case it wasn't what I thought it was. I was too busy playing it cool to realize how stupid I had just been. Figuring he was interested, she played it cool. Mom is playing it cool, but her eyes betray her real emotions. He tried to play it cool but I could see that he was nervous. I considered playing it cool, and pretending that I knew all along. play it straight 1Act or perform seriously, without excessive embellishment or affectation. she played it straight with the intent of presenting a believable character Example sentencesExamples Stone, to his credit, plays it straight, making something of lasting value as a result. The pair ham up their villainous parts while Nelson and the boys play it straight, confounding the audience about who to sympathize with. He insisted he would tamp his sense of humor down and play it straight and earnest. He is determined to make his actors believe that this insanity is sane, making sure, at all times, that they're playing it straight. The fact he is playing it for laughs and playing it straight at the same time is on occasion an unsettling twist. The voice acting is above average—even when the dialogue borders on ridiculous the actors play it straight. While he's good in comedy, the guy also seems to be fine at playing it straight. He plays it straight as the tweedy teacher's assistant who lusts after the same girl as the studly Meyer. It all sounds incredibly goofy but they're playing it straight and the results look shockingly good. 1.1Act in an honest and open manner, without deception or trickery. corporate executives don't always play it straight Example sentencesExamples Play it straight, and your divorce will go more smoothly. He has been around long enough to know that trust depends on playing it straight. Perhaps they are paying the price for not playing it straight up. He has spent enough years on Capitol Hill to know that auditors and examiners play it straight. I think if you just look at his books and look at his work product in the newspaper, you'll see that he plays it straight. This is going to be a general principle of governing: no spin, play it straight, describe to the people the state that we're in, and then provide them and Congress a sense of direction. He played it straight, saying the party did not want to change the way pensions were calculated. The only people I have trouble with are the ones who don't play it straight. play the market Speculate in stocks. these investors know how to play the market and win Example sentencesExamples If you have more than 25 years you can afford to really play the market and put most of your investments in the stock market. He took loans against his credit cards, home equity loans, and whatever else he could get to play the market. If you have the foresight to start planning when your child is still an infant, you will be much freer to play the market and make higher risk, higher return investments in a 15 to 18-year period. If you still can't make an informed decision after an intensive study of research reports, prospectuses and the financial figures a company puts out, you are probably not meant to play the market. For most stock market investors, whether pension funds or individuals playing the market from their home PC, short-term growth is the goal. Indeed, the results of BusinessWeek's annual survey of the 500 biggest offshore funds show that, in spite of all the gloom and doom, it's possible to play the market and win. Shareholders in western corporations are usually motivated to play the market for just one thing: money. Virtually every dollar he got his hands on, right to the end of his life in 1950, was lost playing the market. He attributes his success to playing the market rather than investing in it. Of course if you want to speculate or play the market, you need to acknowledge that you are taking on board, or you're voluntarily assuming, a degree of risk. Synonyms gamble, take a chance, take a risk, venture, take a venture, wager a play on words A pun. every page contains a subtle play on words or arresting metaphor Example sentencesExamples For those of you out there who didn't realise it was a play on words. ‘The title's a play on words, really,’ he explains. The headline, ‘The Last Anchor,’ is a play on words: ‘anchor’ as in anchorman and also any object that secures firmly. I was unprepared, though, for the excellence of chef Willie Little's establishment Exceed - a play on words which refers to the premises, once the shop and loft for seed merchants. ‘Modern ‘readers of this book are in for a pleasant surprise from the outset - its very title turns out to be a play on words.’ If the title contains subtlety, or a play on words, or something that Germans are unlikely to be able to easily translate, they may go for a different English language title. It is called sound geometry and is just a play on words really because the CD's are about sound usually and it is a very geometrical concept. Why is something less ‘obscene’ because it's a play on words? By his own admission, the self-congratulatory title is actually a play on words based on the legendary Studio One in Kingston. He said: ‘The youth church will be called Sorted, which is a bit of a play on words, because as well as being a trendy, youth culture word, ‘soter’ is Greek for salvation. The word Utopia, in More's hands, is actually a play on words. Synonyms pun, wordplay, double entendre, double meaning, innuendo, witticism, quip, quibble play a part Make a contribution to a situation. social and economic factors may have also played a part he personally wanted to thank those nurses and staff who had played a part in his recovery Example sentencesExamples There is, however, a great deal of satisfaction to be gained from playing a part in developing health services. Evidently the type of vocational emphasis in the chosen school plays a part in early school leaving. The possibly calming effect of having family present for the control group during the intervention could have played a part in the reaction. Mr Simpson said: "The main point of the day was to remember everyone who played a part in D-Day". A couple of lineup changes may play a part in Game Three. In practice, elements of all are likely to play a part. The survey, carried out by the Co-operative Bank, interviewed 1020 people to see how much ethics play a part in consumer spending. The financial advantage of being in an Enterprise Zone also played a part. A sharp rise in life expectancy has also played a part. The criminal justice system also plays a part in moral education. Synonyms contribute to, be instrumental in, be a factor in, be partly responsible for, have a hand in, be conducive to, make for, lead to, cause, give rise to play (or play it) safe (or for safety) Take precautions; avoid risks. I think we'll play safe and get another set of X-rays done Example sentencesExamples Sometimes, in politics as well as in poker, playing safe isn't the best strategy. But I decided that playing it safe would be no fun at all. The results so far show that women prefer to play it safe than to take risks with their money. Antonio maintains he thought he was playing it safe, because his computer was not directly connected to the Internet. I'm the kind of person who would rather play it safe and lose out than risk everything and have a chance at winning. He has never concealed the fact that he is a moderate politician who plays safe, so he is not about to stick his neck out. I've spent so much of my life being afraid, missing out on experiences because I was playing it safe, staying within the lines, doing what was expected of me. She had to weigh up the pros and cons - risk a long time out this spring, or play it safe and maybe miss out on a medal in front of her home crowd. He later said: ‘You don't win gold medals by playing it safe.’ The Academy surprised me last year with some genuinely unconventional choices, but I'm playing it safe here. play a trick (or joke) on Behave in a deceptive or teasing way towards. she played a trick on me by not telling me what to expect Example sentencesExamples Greg is a trendy, barefoot shrink, who plays a trick on his wife, in order to spice up their love life. Maybe someone's just playing a trick on me to freak me out. Maybe they were playing a joke on Heather, did you ever think of that? I stared at the arrow for a few moments, making sure that my eyes weren't playing a trick on me. October 31 is a time when children go around ‘trick or treating’ dressed as witches and ghosts and threatening to play a trick on those who do not give them sweets. Derek heard it too, I thought someone was playing a joke on us but there was no one there. It's got to be one of our friends playing a joke on us.' She said: ‘When I received the phone call saying that I had won the car, I hung up the phone on them because I thought it was someone playing a joke on me.’ It doesn't matter, maybe he doesn't want to tell me his name or he was just playing a joke on me the whole time. Scriptwriter Ronan Bennett plays a trick on the audience. I was still kind of angry because I thought that maybe somebody was playing a trick on me, or something. Hey, maybe we can play a joke on Mom with something from the gift shop. It turns out to be Elaine, who was playing a joke on him. Mr White, from near Southampton, had been asleep on the sofa when they decided to play a joke on him. In Peter's last class, he decided to play a joke on the students by saying that they had an oral exam. This time, I decided to play a joke on my parents. Are you sure it's not someone playing a trick on you? She was hoping that maybe her mind was just playing a trick on her. ‘They're playing a joke on us,’ he shouted back. John is so astonished by his wife's behavior that he believes her to be mentally ill (after initially thinking she's playing a joke on him). Synonyms deceive, trick, play a trick on, hoax, dupe, take in, mislead, delude, hoodwink, bluff, beguile, gull, make a fool of, outwit play with oneself informal Masturbate. play with fire Take foolish risks. an urge to play with fire made her provoke him Example sentencesExamples Going out with a stepbrother is not illegal, but you're playing with fire here. United manager Ian McCall might be considered to be playing with fire. Now when it comes to technological advances I have no problem, however when it involves messing with a biological system such as our bodies I believe we are playing with fire. We are playing with fire if we allow such technologies and products, without knowing how to deal with the consequences. Roeder's attempt to ignite his team's season with a player who has courted controversy at almost every turn was described by critics as playing with fire. If that is the First Minister's game he may be playing with fire. Pretending under age sex does not happen or imposing out-of-touch morals on those who are sexually active is playing with fire. By toying with this crisis the politicians are playing with fire. Adapting Schiller was playing with fire, and getting an opera based on his work on stage could be risky, in Italy above all. We're playing with fire when we make huge changes to a complex system that we don't understand, as we seem to be doing with the various substances we're pumping into our atmosphere. Synonyms run a risk, live dangerously, play with fire, sail close to the wind, risk it played out informal Used or seen too many times before so no longer interesting. the melodrama is a little played out to be entirely satisfying Synonyms stale, hackneyed, well-worn, clichéd, stock, trite, banal, worn out, time-worn, threadbare, hoary, tired, overused, obsolete, antiquated, finished, old Phrasal Verbs play about (or around) 1Behave in a casual, foolish, or irresponsible way. you shouldn't play around with a child's future Example sentencesExamples Everyone knows that when scientists play around with genes, they screw up. It's that time of year again when parents are advised to keep a watch on their children to make sure they do not play around with fireworks. A lot of Christmas discs play around with the music we've grown to love over the years, but not enough try and make something unique enough to really stand out. Back in my days working at the Shake bar me and some of the other workers in the quiet time used to play around with the bottles. These investments of course may yet come good, but I suppose I just don't have that sort of disposable income to play around with. Instead of 64 mb of RAM, I've suddenly got 512 mbs to play around with. We can't play around with the future of our children. I'm fairly happy with the layout, but I think I might play around with the colour scheme over the next few days. I had quite a full weekend, although most of Saturday was spent playing about with the new DVD player. It is no longer possible to play around with identity politics. 1.1informal (of a married person) have a love affair. was her husband playing around? Example sentencesExamples Our father was ‘playing around’, as my mother later explained it to us. You can't stop a married man from playing around, but when he takes a mistress and actually sets up a household, then he breaks the law. Synonyms womanize, philander, have affairs affair, have an affair, flirt, dally, toy with someone's affections, trifle with someone's affections play along 1Perform a piece of music at the same time as it is playing on a tape or record. I could make harmonies by playing along with the tape Example sentencesExamples An accompanying CD provides the opportunity for students to play along. I'm one of those people who learned the guitar playing along to Beatles records and stuff… The guy living above just put on a Bjork record, which sounded nice up until he whipped out his saxophone and started playing along, totally out of key. Since then he has got his own junior drum kit and plays along to records by his favourite bands by ear. He's the I reason picked up a guitar and I learned by playing along to his records. To learn the drums, he tried playing along to records, a method he admitted hating. When the band got serious, he decided to learn the bass his grandfather had bought him for Christmas, playing along to songs by Blur and the Jackson 5. His typical early evening entertainment involves putting on a tape of some unidentifiable rock music and playing along to it. I used to stand in the window at quiet times listening to the records and trying to play along to them on the Moog synthesizer they had in the shop. I'm not one for attacking musicians for playing along to backing tracks. 1.1Pretend to cooperate. she had to play along and be polite Example sentencesExamples I didn't want to play along with her stupid mind games anymore. Nicky, of course, was perfectly happy to play along with this. I have no desire to play along with Kelly's little machinations. When Sascha first told me he was a neuropsychologist, I thought he was joking, so I decided to play along with it and told him I was a nurse. At first she started to play along with him to calm him down, suggesting things. I'm dying to scream the truth out to everyone from the roof tops, yet I know I'll play along with this ridiculous charade. He took that opportunity to give Daphne a little wink to let her know that he would play along with whatever she decided to do. He now claims that he knew all the time that it was a sting and was just playing along, giving the reporters what they wanted in order to extract more information about their motives and identities. I figured I could play along with the ‘just friends’ bit, then ply him with alcohol and take advantage of him. Apparently the Germans played along in order to win time to reinforce their forces in Italy. Synonyms cooperate, collaborate, play along, play the game, go along with the plan, show willing, be willing, help, lend a hand, assist, be of assistance, contribute, reciprocate, respond play someone along Deceive or mislead someone over a period of time. he'd play her along till she got fed up Example sentencesExamples I had no idea what I was doing, just that I had to play him along and find us a way out of this. Jackie Lye as Gill the good time girl playing Mark along is certainly lust on legs and captures this temptress perfectly. Rather than telling the ‘buyer’ to take a running jump, Jeff decided to play him along while at the same time complaining about his actions to eBay. play away 1Play a sports fixture on an opponent's ground. Example sentencesExamples I believe the team can raise their game by at least another 20 percent and even though we are playing away we can win this final. In a ground share, the standard arrangement is that, on a given weekend, one team plays at home while the other plays away. On Sunday Oaks played away to rivals Long Lee and lost 1-0 despite being on top for most of the game. In short, nobody wants to play away to New Zealand. Crooks added: ‘Barnsley are on a good run but they'll know how well we play away and will be a bit worried.’ We want to perform in front of our own fans instead of reserving the best for when we play away, and Bath need the win to claw themselves away from the relegation zone. The professional clubs come in at the third round and this time it will be an open draw, with the amateurs not having to play away. Friday rugby would also give our staff a proper weekend break and that would be appreciated by the players who, when we play away on a Sunday, have no time at all with their families. In France, if there is more than one division between the teams drawn together, the higher team plays away as a handicap. When you play away you expect the home team to start off the better of the two sides. 1.1informal (of a married person) have a love affair. Example sentencesExamples If you can live with that (and without your current BF when he finds out), play away! With fame and wealth come more opportunities to play away, but it is selfish to believe that only the players feel lonely. I'm amazed the number of my married women friends who've played away since their fifties. Lowly Wigan's problems mount - they are like the cheating husband who gets his kicks by playing away! A one-night stand cost him an estimated stg £100m when his wife, Pamela, found out that he had been playing away from home. I was married with a little boy by now but my wife fell in love with someone else and I was playing away. play something back Play sounds that one has recently recorded, especially to monitor recording quality. I did a lot of recording and then played it back Example sentencesExamples The next time you're out with a group of friends, obtain permission to record casual conversation for 30 minutes and then play it back. Fortunately I recorded the breakfast show trail so I could play it back when we'd finished, and in all honesty I think it's the best one I've done so far. The comments were only noticed after the official Press briefing, when the recordings were played back. Digital photos can be played back in a slide show, complete with a soundtrack compiled from the music library. They don't do it live, he records it then plays it back a few minutes later. Mike played the tape back and the song sounded awesome. I handed him a list of questions that I had prepared and promised him that we could record the interview, play it back, and if he did not like it we would scrap it. We tried to record the call so we could play it back on air, but could only capture my half of the conversation, which was no good. The ability to record musical performances and play them back at any time was, during the 20th century, the principal force spreading music and its appreciation to an ever-wider public. After recording one track, you can play it back while recording another. play something down Represent something as being less important than it in fact is. he tried to play down the seriousness of his illness Example sentencesExamples But Det Supt Higgins yesterday played his role down, saying he could never have done it without the extraordinary dedication of a team of officers. We are in a substantial and serious crisis and both the government and the media are playing it down. Within the corridors of parliament last week, many opposition MSPs had begun playing the affair down. We are definitely playing this win down - it's easy for the supporters to get carried away but we have to take certain things into account. But the risk is played down by the government body meant to ensure that our food is safe, the Food Standards Agency. As much as she plays it down, not wishing to ‘romanticise’ it, her home life must have been a rich source of inspiration. Not surprisingly, this whole episode was played down by the press. However, the Scottish Executive were playing the possibility down. Sharon plays it down, insisting it'll be a small affair. If Torrance made any significant contribution to his son's tactical thinking he is playing it down. Synonyms make light of, make little of, make nothing of, set little store by, set no store by, gloss over, de-emphasize, underemphasize, downplay, understate, underplay, minimize, shrug off play someone off Bring people into conflict or competition for one's own advantage. top footballers were able to play clubs off against each other to gain higher pay Example sentencesExamples ‘Eamon believed that Today FM were trying to play him off against Bird as a way of keeping down the size of his salary,’ said one station insider. Confronted by this evidence of disunity among his enemies, Charles took the understandable but risky course of playing them off against each other. The British government is effectively abdicating IT strategy to the major players and confining itself to attempts to play them off against one another in order to obtain lower prices. Meanwhile we have a Government that is effectively responding by playing them off each other promising much and delivering very little. To prevent workers from taking a unified stance against management, the latter tries to split its workers into groups and to play them off against one another. Give them the information they need and then play them off against each other until the sum you're being offered is a fair approximation of what you want to receive. He left the running of the country to his deputies, playing them off against each other, intervening only to reassert his authority. That way, the buyers could not play us off against each other. It's divide-and-rule, playing us off in a grim bidding war of who will work for the least money. Don't let the property developers play us off against each other. play off (of two teams or competitors) play an extra match to decide a draw or tie. the top two teams would play off at Twickenham Example sentencesExamples The third and fourth place teams also played off, with the loser eliminated and the winner playing the loser of the one versus two game. The top four teams will play off for the premier division title with the bottom four playing for the First Division title. The four provincial champions will qualify for the quarter-finals with the defeated teams playing off for the other four places. The winners of their respective matches will contest the final, while the losers will play off for the bronze medal. The section winners will play off to decide the overall champions in a championship tournament on April 1. In the event of both teams finishing level they play off with each pairing playing a single game. The top team in each of the two groups go directly to the semi-finals, with the next two teams in each pool playing off for the remaining spots in the last four. These two teams played off a couple of weeks ago at the same ground, and Port won handsomely as they dominated North Ballarat all over the ground. Sadly, aggregate scores counted for nothing in those days, and having won and lost a leg apiece, the teams played off. Division B teams would be playing off for the right to go up to Division A at the expense of the worst performed team in Division A. play on Exploit (a weak or vulnerable point in someone) he played on his opponent's nerves Example sentencesExamples It is true that much of the humour plays on cultural differences but this is done without ever becoming too crude or crass. Any politician who plays on race is a danger to the country and should never be allowed to run in any public office. The artist creates this discomfort and plays on it, usurping expectations. All this from a fear that is not well articulated and plays on the emotive issue of terrorism. The idealism of childhood is further perpetuated by the advertising industry that plays on our nostalgia for a time when everything came easily. It plays on the fact that there is nothing else up there and you'll probably be desperate for something to eat, or at least to drink. The council has played on the emotions of these people and their relatives. We laugh because it plays on our deep anxieties about our own sexuality. These stories always appear to have been made up by newspapers seeking sales by playing on people's fears. Any company that asks for large amounts of money or plays on people's greed or fears should be immediately suspect. Synonyms exploit, take advantage of, use, make use of, turn to account, turn to one's account, profit by, capitalize on, impose on, trade on, milk, abuse, misuse play out 1Develop in a particular way. the position of the sub-tropical jet stream across North America will determine how winter plays out Example sentencesExamples The following exchanges with both teams seemingly quiet happy to play out the remainder of the game for a share of the points. It's not yet clear how his fate will play out. A similar scenario had previously been played out for the antioxidant vitamin carotene. Negotiations are ongoing, we'll have to see how they play out. Fans are actually helping decide how one of the storylines is going to play out. Thankfully, all the character machinations (no pun intended) play out well. I think obviously the senatorial process has got to play out. Allen said the current code could allow an institution to recuperate some losses in revenue for whatever plays out. The legal wrangle is yet to play out in the courts. We've had decades to watch the digital revolution play out. Synonyms turn out, work out, conclude, end, end up, result, come out, fall out, develop, evolve 2Happen; take place. this scenario plays out all across the country Example sentencesExamples Wild Life plays out like a memory, in short pieces linked by a peculiar dream-like logic. Exactly the same phenomenon has played out over a longer period in agriculture. I think that's sort of what we're hearing playing out behind us right now. The joke plays out the full ramifications of the power of the male gaze in objectifying women. The second race of the day was played out in very different conditions to the first. They do however impart an added level of mayhem you can inflict on the Federation, all of which plays out nicely on screen. Are we too far gone to make a difference in the way the rest of this election plays out on the streets. I was really struck by the way the climatic gunfight played out in the movie. We're going to look at how it will play out today in Virginia. You're going to be surprised to find out where it's playing out. Synonyms happen, occur, take place, come about, come to pass, crop up, turn up, arise, chance, ensue, befall, be realized, take shape, transpire play someone out Drain someone of strength or life. she was played out, too exhausted even to weep Example sentencesExamples There was a sense that I was played out, I was finished. There was nowhere else I could go. I was played out. By this time I was played out and so were Beck and Nora. play something out Act the whole of a drama; enact a scene or role. they were playing out a familiar scenario Example sentencesExamples The saga was played out all this week in the Spanish newspapers. It goes without saying that one sees the full range of human emotion - great life and death dramas are played out before one's eyes. The little church has seen hundred of years pass by and lives long forgotten have played their dramas out around it. Is landscape just merely the indifferent background scene on which our lives are played out or it is integral to who we are and how we feel? Not surprisingly, due to his fame, the whole scenario was played out in the papers. It does, however, offer a far closer insight into the reality of justice, as it is played out every day in our courts, than anything most ordinary people will ever see. On 21st November, 1953, the final scene in the saga was played out. Similar scenes have been played out thousands and thousands of times around the country. Supplemented with archive material that showed how the drama was played out on local TV, it makes compelling viewing. Such scenes are played out across the whole of Britain with a fair degree of regularity, though they remain relatively rare north of the border. It is just that, here, all life's dramas are played out in front of the most spectacular backdrop you could hope to find. Synonyms portray, represent, depict, characterize, describe, present happen, occur, take place, come about, come to pass, crop up, turn up, arise, chance, ensue, befall, be realized, take shape, transpire play up 1(of a child) misbehave. I hadn't had much sleep—the kids had been playing up Synonyms misbehave, be misbehaved, behave badly, be bad, be naughty, be mischievous, get up to mischief, be disobedient, be awkward, cause trouble, give trouble, make trouble 1.1Fail to function properly. his phone line was constantly playing up Example sentencesExamples The hamstring wasn't too bad but my knee was playing up a little bit. Then our bathroom's ageing cistern started to play up, so I made a quick phone call to our reasonable and reliable plumber. The dishwasher's playing up, but it should be all right by the time we open. It was just my thigh playing up again and they want me to play again next week. My computer's been playing up a fair bit lately and this morning the screen just completely faded out. However, if the Irishman's troublesome hamstring plays up, Reardon could be switched to his favoured right-wing spot. Synonyms not work properly, be defective, be faulty, malfunction, act up, give trouble be painful, hurt, ache, be sore, cause pain, cause discomfort, cause trouble, annoy 2Put all one's energy into a game. the captain told his team to play up Example sentencesExamples Insofar as basketball is concerned, if he is already playing up, teach him the game as you would the older players. play someone up (of a part of the body or an illness) cause pain or discomfort to someone. my rheumatism's playing me up Example sentencesExamples After all this pressing of numbers my fingers were playing me up as I am well past retirement age. My knee is still playing me up and I'm still walking with a limp. Gus never said anything; he carried on driving, but wondered if his sciatica was playing him up. He'd deliberately eaten little in the hours before, so it wouldn't play him up. Peering over the top of her horn rimmed glasses with suspicion, Rose wheezed, ‘Oh my aching bones are playing me up something chronic today!’ Now in his fifties, and prone to limp if his arthritis was playing him up, he was grateful for the chance to end his working life here. Oh I'm fine, a bit tired - Roger's back is still playing him up. Synonyms be painful, hurt, ache, be sore, cause pain, cause discomfort, cause trouble, annoy play something up Emphasize the extent or importance of something. the mystery surrounding his death was played up by the media Example sentencesExamples Fianna Fáil were wary of playing up their chances. Fearful of being accused of complacency, they fail to allay public fears and often play up hypothetical risks. His warnings were unheeded, and, as he predicted, Republicans played the issue up in the final weeks of the campaign. The government is playing up the great energy savings these regulations will provide and selling the new laws as a ‘win’ to the environment. They played up fears of juvenile crime and welfare dependency, but failed to challenge the belief that mothers worked only out of financial necessity. Predictions of 450,000 lost jobs are played up in the media, while the jobs that will be created to combat global warming are ignored. She took it much worse than I did, though I played it up for the girls a bit when they came around to coddle me. We certainly play that fact up whenever we've got an award-winning book. While even the most diehard Celtic fan will find it difficult to muster up excitement, Sky are still trying to play the match up as if it's Judgement Day itself. Now governments can get more support by playing the threat up and issuing constant warnings. Synonyms emphasize, lay emphasis on, put emphasis on, accentuate, bring attention to, call attention to, draw attention to, focus attention on, point up, underline, underscore, highlight, spotlight, foreground, feature, give prominence to, bring to the fore, heighten, stress, accent play up to Exploit, trade on, or make the most of. Example sentencesExamples He's also a mass of contradictions, desperately playing up to more successful ex-schoolmates and then verbally and physically assaulting them. When every major presidential candidate contributes to a candidate or plays up to a labor activist in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina, that makes it possible for the recipients of this attention to choose relatively freely. Synonyms ingratiate oneself with, seek the favour of, try to get on the good side of, curry favour with, court, fawn on, fawn over, make up to, keep someone sweet, toady to, crawl to, grovel to, pander to, be obsequious towards, truckle to, flatter Origin Old English pleg(i)an 'to exercise', plega 'brisk movement', related to Middle Dutch pleien 'leap for joy, dance'. In Old English plegan or plegian meant ‘to exercise’, while plega meant ‘brisk movement or activity’, and could also be used to describe a dramatic performance on stage. These are the first uses of play. Today terms such as swordplay and gunplay preserve the old ‘brisk movement’ sense of the noun. To play with fire is to take foolish risks with something potentially dangerous. The proverb if you play with fire you get burned dates from the late 19th century, though a similar sentiment is expressed by the poet Henry Vaughan in 1655: ‘I played with fire, did counsel spurn…But never thought that fire would burn / Or that a soul could ache.’ Play it again, Sam is a popular misquotation from the film Casablanca (1942). Although these precise words are never actually spoken in the film, Humphrey Bogart does say ‘If she can stand it, I can. Play it!’, and earlier in the film Ingrid Bergman says ‘Play it, Sam. Play “As Time Goes By”.’ The US magazine Playboy was founded in 1953 by Hugh Hefner. A playboy was at first, back in 1616, a boy actor. The modern sense, ‘an irresponsible pleasure-seeking man’, started in Ireland, and is first recorded in the 1820s. Rhymes affray, agley, aka, allay, Angers, A-OK, appellation contrôlée, array, assay, astray, au fait, auto-da-fé, away, aweigh, aye, bay, belay, betray, bey, Bombay, Bordet, boulevardier, bouquet, brae, bray, café au lait, Carné, cassoulet, Cathay, chassé, chevet, chez, chiné, clay, convey, Cray, crème brûlée, crudités, cuvée, cy-pres, day, decay, deejay, dégagé, distinguée, downplay, dray, Dufay, Dushanbe, eh, embay, engagé, essay, everyday, faraway, fay, fey, flay, fray, Frey, fromage frais, gainsay, Gaye, Genet, giclee, gilet, glissé, gray, grey, halfway, hay, heigh, hey, hooray, Hubei, Hué, hurray, inveigh, jay, jeunesse dorée, José, Kay, Kaye, Klee, Kray, Lae, lay, lei, Littré, Lough Neagh, lwei, Mae, maguey, Malay, Mallarmé, Mandalay, Marseilles, may, midday, midway, mislay, misplay, Monterrey, Na-Dene, nay, né, née, neigh, Ney, noway, obey, O'Dea, okay, olé, outlay, outplay, outstay, outweigh, oyez, part-way, pay, Pei, per se, pince-nez, portray, pray, prey, purvey, qua, Quai d'Orsay, Rae, rangé, ray, re, reflet, relevé, roman-à-clef, Santa Fé, say, sei, Shar Pei, shay, slay, sleigh, sley, spae, spay, Spey, splay, spray, stay, straightaway, straightway, strathspey, stray, Sui, survey, sway, Taipei, Tay, they, today, tokay, Torbay, Tournai, trait, tray, trey, two-way, ukiyo-e, underlay, way, waylay, Wei, weigh, wey, Whangarei, whey, yea verb.1 phr. phr.v. Definition of play in US English: play verbpleɪplā 1no object Engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose. the children were playing outside her friends were playing with their dolls Example sentencesExamples Do you know who your children are playing with or where they are playing? Let her use up her energy by playing outside every day and enjoying other lively activities. I want to lie on the couch reading the paper on a Sunday morning with my children playing around me and my husband's hand in mine. He said the two were playing when the accused boy picked up the stone and hit his friend in the stomach. In the evenings, she plays outside with her friends. He has above average reading skills, he's a happy child and plays with his friends in the evenings. He says this causes a range of problems, such as discouraging residents from walking to shops or children playing in the street. The boys played together on the nearby hills and fished and swam in the local loch. After lunch the kids were sent out to play, the women-folk took the dishes off to the kitchen and the men flopped in front of the TV. The drama happened when the boys, one celebrating his birthday, were playing at an isolated spot by the river near Pottery Lane. Officials are advising the public to prevent their children or dogs from playing on or near the edges of the canal. Children can feed, touch and play with the animals during free public tours led by park rangers. She sees other children playing happily, mothers lavishing care on children, but no one plays with her. He needs a stick to walk and finds playing with his son Alex, aged four, difficult. If it was warm we played outside on the grass, which was so different to our cobbled streets at home. Last week Cromane Beach was a hive of activity with children playing, swimming and enjoying picnics. They fell into silence, watching their children play together. Ms Baulland was sitting on a bench near the grass area where the boys were playing. We didn't see that much of them, even from the beginning, though the children played together a lot. Mr Byrne came out of his house and took the football to stop the boys playing. Synonyms amuse oneself, entertain oneself, enjoy oneself, have fun, have a good time, relax, rest, be at leisure, occupy oneself, divert oneself, play games, frolic, frisk, gambol, romp, cavort, caper 1.1with object Engage in (a game or activity) for enjoyment. I want to play Monopoly Example sentencesExamples He sat down next to me as though he'd never been away, and we played cards and had a few beers - a lot of beers, to be honest. She said: ‘I have been playing Scrabble for 14 years and I love the variety and challenge of it.’ After dinner that night we played cards for a while. The poor creatures aren't even allowed to play conkers at school any more. It was unlikely I was going to find Adie playing Space Invaders at such an unearthly hour, but it was worth a try. When you play Monopoly with your family, there are rules that you enforce and rules that you probably don't. I've been playing Mario world all day, and am going to have another shot at it today. As such, the games were quite fun to play, despite their rather basic gameplay. Remember when you were a kid playing poker on your kitchen table for pennies? Armed with copies of the morning newspapers and flasks of coffee and dressed in their civvies, they chatted, or played cards to pass the time. Those were the days of mini skirts and she would always seat herself across from me while we played cards. They also played board games like checkers, chess, and dominoes. Too much emphasis is placed on solitary activities such as playing video games or watching television. The other girls would tiptoe down the hall and peek in on them, watching as they played cards and draughts. Out on the town we played Space Invaders or PacMan down at our local video parlour. Synonyms take part in, participate in, engage in, be involved in, join in, compete in, do 1.2 Amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretense. the boys were playing cops and robbers Example sentencesExamples I waiting impatiently for the bell to ring so I could run out to meet my friends at the playground and play cops and robbers. As a boy, I used to play cowboys and Indians all the time. It is like little boys and girls playing doctors and nurses. As a child, she had played at being a gun-toting cowgirl. In summer we played shop in back yards or gardens, or hopscotch on the pavements. It was all a game, like playing at shops; but unknowingly, I was learning the value of money. My children don't play with guns, but at lunchtime some were playing at shooting each other. 1.3play at Engage in without proper seriousness or understanding. stars who play at being ordinary Example sentencesExamples I mean, they were just playing at it before, but now they're completely serious. But they were playing at being villains, like in the movies. So that she could play at being a countrywoman at Versailles, Louis XV provided her with a hermitage comprising a pavilion, a menagerie, a pasture, dairy and kitchen garden. Their conformity to the tenets of a philosophy that was supposed to be about non-conformity, suggests that, deep down, they were were playing at it. Lemar doesn't actually seem to know they're just playing at being in love with each other. Synonyms pretend to be, give the appearance of, affect the role of, assume the role of, pass oneself off as, masquerade as, profess to be, pose as, impersonate, make out, fake, feign, simulate, affect, go through the motions of 1.4play with Treat inconsiderately for one's own amusement. she likes to play with people's emotions Example sentencesExamples And I don't really think Jen is playing with Josh's feelings, I think she's just as confused as she sounds. She should have known that Eddie was just playing with her heart like everyone else he flirted with. Do you think I've just been playing with your emotions this last fortnight? No-one would exploit real people and play with their emotions and date them just for a piece of art. Synonyms take advantage of, impose on, exploit, make use of, use, abuse, misuse, manipulate, take liberties with, trifle with, play with 1.5play with Fiddle or tamper with. has somebody been playing with the thermostat? Example sentencesExamples He peeled himself away from the shadows and walked over to us, idly playing with his sword. Elizabeth played with one of the flowers in her basket as they walked in silence. Her salad was whisked away and she moved onto playing with the noodles in her pasta. He plays with his hands as we sit down at the Toronto International Film Festival to discuss his latest project. His eyes wander evasively, he plays with his cigar and glances round a supposed movie studio that is nothing more than a shoddy mock-up. She had stopped eating and was just playing with her pasta, pushing it around the plate with her fork. Sarah plays with her food with her fork, picking out the chocolate chips and making a pile of them at the side of her plate. Julie walked over and sat down next to her, playing with the cuffs of her sweatshirt. For the next 15 minutes Vanessa picked at her nails as Isabel played with her hair. Cable tidies will help prevent children from tripping over cables and playing with them. Synonyms handle, hold, pick up, move 2with object Take part in (a sport) I play softball and tennis Example sentencesExamples He had previously played football with Sutton United and liked to watch snooker as well. If Darryl Berry played any other sport but golf, he would probably earn a living from it. Christopher also plays ice hockey for Hull, and he is a defenceman in both sports. I loved playing international cricket, the tours, the thrill of it. I used to play netball when I was a teenager, but was never very good at it. If you can swim you can go swimming, canoeing, diving, play water polo or do aqua fitness sports such as aquarobics. He was active in sport in his youth and played both hockey and badminton. He also played hockey with distinction and represented Sri Lanka in this sport. The majority of Australian umpires have played cricket at a relatively low level or not at all. She is a fine athlete and has played volleyball and basketball for her school. Playing football is all I want to do and playing football in England is perfect for me. Ginny played beach volleyball with the local high school students and learned how to surf. Another new initiative was launched this week to get more children playing sport. I love the game and played club cricket poorly until age and sloth took over. There's a lot of people that want to play sport but do not want to get into an aggressive sport. The Manchester United winger said: ‘I dislocated my jaw in the summer and I have not been allowed me to play any contact sport up until now.’ We just had to prove we played basketball better than the rest of the world. He enjoyed many sports, and played table tennis for Manchester and tennis for Manchester University. I'm a 25-year-old single bloke who plays international cricket and tours the world. As a young man he loved sport, playing baseball, football and hockey. Synonyms take part in, participate in, engage in, be involved in, join in, compete in, do 2.1 Participate in (an athletic match or contest) the Red Sox will play two games on Wednesday Example sentencesExamples Yet it was difficult not to feel sorry for Latvia, playing their first match in a major tournament. The surgery invigorated him so much that in his first year of retirement he played up to three rounds of golf per week. From start to finish, the 40-over contest was played under leaden skies and falling rain. In September to mid November, the training program will reach its peak with the bowlers expected to play up to 75 games. Omagh were forced to play three championship matches in eight days in October. The country's hockey team is currently playing a series of matches in Spain. I was really hoping for a win but we played well and we are going in the right direction. He has height and pace and is rated highly by the England management, but has not played a championship match since June. In the end the match was played amid a torrential downpour, plus thunder and lightning. In Barcelona the players will be playing at least five games So, in an eventful year, he played nine tournaments, won six of them and came runner-up in two. One feature common to all great teams is the ability to win when playing badly. The game will be played under floodlights, kicking off at 3pm. Kanoute looked as if he hadn't played a football match all season. He plays to win; that's why he is the great golfer he is. When United last played a semi-final in Manchester in 1998 there were two nights of trouble in the city. However, despite playing rather poorly, they dug in and achieved an unlikely victory. Chelsea's Claude Makelele has hinted he may have played his last match for France. Cork and Galway have played nine championship games between them. Before the new season Rovers will play up to eight friendlies, including games against Premier League teams Hearts and St Mirren. The match was played in a very sporting spirit and both teams are to be complimented for this. The competition was played over three days on two of the best golf courses in Cyprus. We would rather play as many games as possible against top notch teams. Synonyms take part in, participate in, engage in, be involved in, join in, compete in, do 2.2 Compete against (another player or team) in an athletic match or contest. the team will play France on Wednesday Example sentencesExamples At times you have to chop and change, particularly when you are playing good teams. My team plays his about 3 times a year, and every game is a barn burner and we take turns winning. In this instance, the fact that they will be playing a team they know very little about could work to their disadvantage. The only problem is that we are playing a top side away from home and that makes it even more difficult to get a result. We may just get a bit tense, and that comes down to inexperience, playing the best team in the world. It is very rare that the defending champions play the team they wrested the trophy from in a World Cup finals. We organised a staff volleyball team to play the senior team last week and we beat them! He plays a qualifier in the first round but must then get past two-time semi-finalist Todd Martin. It is never easy playing a team that is fighting relegation and has had two bad results on the spin. Horgan, Johns and Ward drop to the bench and Murphy has been relegated to the A team which plays South Africa in Limerick tonight. We traveled to different bowling centers, played different teams, and it was a lot of fun. We had a loss to Italy and we came right back and played the home team Germany. In the Test matches, we are playing the second-ranked team in the world so that's very difficult in itself. So Keighley were playing a team made up of a mixture of second and third players. We need to be able to play these big teams and stay composed and hold onto the ball. This division of parental loyalties has made it such that in sporting contests when England plays Germany, he is unsure of whom to barrack for. The tournament is played on a round robin basis, with each team playing every other team. Team USA plays China today, and Mendoza can hardly believe she is part of this. Apparently the International Rugby Board think it's a good idea to have France play Ireland in Paris on Feb 14th. He is the only new cap in the team which plays Bangladesh in the opening Test of a two-Test series at Buffalo Park tomorrow. Synonyms compete against, contend against, oppose, take on, challenge, vie with, rival 2.3informal no object, usually with negative Be cooperative. he needs financial backing, but the bank won't play Example sentencesExamples The media got another warning from the White House this week: be careful what you do and say, or we won't play. If the lawyers had approved the meetings and then FBI had refused to play, the buck would have been passed to the Bureau. Synonyms cooperate, collaborate, play along, play the game, go along with the plan, show willing, be willing, help, lend a hand, assist, be of assistance, contribute, reciprocate, respond 2.4no object Be part of a team, especially in a specified position, in a game. he played shortstop Example sentencesExamples Both are Manchester United supporters who dream of playing at Old Trafford one day. Juan Sebastian Veron is not the first member of his family to play for an English league team. Would he rather be playing for a more fashionable club, one at which it is easier to gain international selection? The boy has been playing for the Under- 18s this season, with just a couple of reserve starts. He was a lovely kid and he's gone on to play for Northern Ireland and Wimbledon. He also played in goal on the college team that won the Munster junior championship in 1994. He is 30 next month and might not have many more opportunities to play for England. Now, because they have seen how I play for the national team, they have a new respect for British football. Peter Crouch comes on for Owen - if he gets booked, England will only have Wayne Rooney and Theo Walcott to play up front in their quarter-final against Germany. Edilson played up front in place of the suspended Ronaldinho. He plays at right-back or right wing-back, but he can also be played upfront. Chopra may have been a revelation to many but not to those who have watched him play for his club or state. It obviously did the trick, because I became a regular in the first team and went on to play for England. The ultimate goal is to play for Scotland, but there are lots of things before that. More than anything, and certainly more than money, he wanted to play for England. He joined the national team and plays on behalf of his adopted country. He plays on the wing, but it was at fullback where he found his twinkling feet. He now has it written into his club contract that he plays at No 10, and since he has enjoyed that continuity he has played very well indeed. Not only that, but he was asked to play in midfield rather than his usual central defensive position. It is important to have players in the England team who play regularly together at club level. 2.5 Strike (a ball) or execute (a stroke) in a game. Example sentencesExamples They got stuck into us, they played the ball forward all the time. Their right winger got past two of our defenders and played the ball into out box. James Keddy played the ball down the left wing for Robbie Doyle. The one consistent complaint about his batting is that he tries to play far too many shots. He is more in tune with what the coaches want, and he's playing the ball much better. After tea Peterson and Kreusch batted carefully, taking the singles and playing each ball on its merit. Emre plays a cross-field ball from left to right. Brian Dunne played a good ball up the right wing to Gino O'Boyle and he crossed into the box where John Conlon got between two defenders to head home. He missed a challenge and the ball was played through to the unmarked Karl Smith. Our batsmen played too many shots square of the wicket off the new ball. Ultimately, it will all boil down to how well and how frequently you play the ball with the middle of the bat. Trezeguet is caught marginally offside as Henry plays the ball through to him. They can play the ball up to the strikers, and not take too much risk going forward. He went back to the tee to play a provisional ball but then he found his original ball and he played that. Steven Gerrard plays a long ball from left to right, which Luis Garcia fails to control properly and immediately gives away. Deep inside stoppage time, substitute Matt Woolf played the ball over Bremner, picking out Kempster on the left. Hargreaves plays the ball into Pizarro on the edge of the Celtic box. Ian Harte played the ball down the left to Alan Smith. However at 37 in the 11th over, Ramesh played an adventurous stroke and was bowled for 20. Every time Patrick got anywhere near the opposition box he would freeze and not know where to play the ball. 2.6 Assign to take part in an athletic contest, especially in a specified position. the manager will want to play the right-handed Curtis Example sentencesExamples When I came back from injury earlier this season, the gaffer took a chance on me and played me up front against Dundee United. Crewe boss Dario Gradi elected to play his strongest side last night and was rewarded with a half-time lead courtesy of a Rob Hulse goal. Whether England manager Clive Woodward plays him at full-back, on the wing or even at centre on Saturday, he is a certain starter. The Giants were playing me out of position at second base, and the Pirates moved me back to third. He let it be known his complaint with Robson was that he was played out of position too often at Newcastle and it was affecting his England career. He's another natural goal scorer, but Stalybridge have played him in midfield where I think he is wasted. Woodward, desperate to get the best out of him, has played him in four positions. Each of these three managers will play their first choice eleven whenever they can. Perhaps he was wrong not to have played his chosen team before that game. Eriksson still has not worked out the best partnership to play up front. Advocaat tried playing him up front, but he only managed one goal in seven. He was played in the wrong position and did not do too well, but as soon as he moved up front he has got better and better. Dessie O'Malley, Dara Ainsworth, Daniel Fahy and Roger Clarke are all either injured or unavailable and manager Fergie McEllin may be forced to play midfielders up front. Playing him in that position helps us to play four bowlers and bat deeper down. Peru greatly altered their team selection and played a defender up front. Aliadiere would have started and I wanted to play front him up, but he was sick. Initially, he was played out of position at right-back. One alternative would be to play Danny up front if young Jon Cartledge settles at the back. At the moment, Fergie is experimenting with playing Scholes up front, just off the big striker, van Nistelrooy. The Indian tour selection committee played into their hands by playing just two fast bowlers. 2.7 Move (a piece) or display (a playing card) in one's turn in a game. he played his queen Example sentencesExamples Upon playing a card, his opponent must lay down all of his cards of the same suit and the same rank. If you expose the queen of spades, then the first time that someone leads a spade you are not allowed to play the queen if you have other spades. Each player has a hand of six cards, and a turn consists of replenishing your hand to six and then playing a card. Note that the game very often ends in the middle before all the cards are played. Somebody always has to play the role of banker as well as playing their own piece. There may be cards left on the table after everyone has played their cards from the first deal. Then she played the last card currently in her hand, which was a 6 of Diamonds, by the way. Then, on each turn, everyone simultaneously plays a card from their hand. If you have the Ace of trump, you are guaranteed to win the trick you play that in. 2.8 Bet or gamble at or on. he didn't play the ponies Example sentencesExamples Even if you're not into playing the ponies, the setting is marvelous and it's a superb place for a picnic. Another important factor in playing the lottery is to play within your means. I don't play the lotto and I avoid gambling at all costs. His happiness relies on a visit to the casino to play the slot machines. Mary is not a gambler, but she is very lucky when she plays on the slot machines. Advertised as a game, the online lottery is ‘played’ by buying a free slip over the counter, which allows the buyer to play up to six boards, each priced at Rs.10. The club now allows women to play bingo on Sunday afternoons, but it still won't make us full members. It was his first time at Fair Grounds but playing the ponies is nothing to new to him. The money people spend playing the lottery keeps some of these taxes from going up. 3with object Represent (a character) in a theatrical performance or a film. she played Ophelia Example sentencesExamples In Noyce's film, Michael Caine plays the aging, indolent British journalist Thomas Fowler. It's rather a relief to find that Langridge is nothing like most of the roles he plays on stage. Nhlanhla Lata, who began acting when he was 11, plays Michael, and Sam Mabona plays the stage manager. Hackman plays a wealthy lawyer who lives in Puerto Rico. He even appeared in movies, playing himself in For Those Who Think Young, a comedy about teenagers on Spring Break in Florida. But the main roles are all played by actors with little or no experience in westerns. In the film, John Huston plays an aging film director named Jake Hannaford in the declining years of his career. A devoted father in real life, here he is playing a young man who claims he has stayed in a loveless marriage for the sake of his child. Tom Hanks plays six characters in this new animated movie by Robert Zemeckis. Laurence Olivier plays Lord Nelson, and Vivien Leigh is Emma, Lady Hamilton, who becomes his lover. The contraceptive pill had been made available for the first time a year earlier, Harold Macmillan was Prime Minister and Sean Connery played James Bond for the first time. Laurence Olivier plays Crasius, the bisexual emperor, in this historical epic. So playing a Shakespearian character isn't too different, he tells Nick Curtis Holly Hunter plays the evil work colleague who encourages Murphy's paranoia. The Australian actor plays a woman who believes her dead husband has been reincarnated in the body of a 10-year-old boy. In my next film I'm playing a really intense character and I'm nervous. Connolly plays a fisherman living in Australia, whose boat is struck by lightning. He plays the central character, and you can tell that he relishes his scenes with Kingsley. He played Natalie Cole's manager in the made-for-TV movie based on the singer's life. He plays characters his age and doesn't try to pretend he's 20 years younger than he actually is. Synonyms act the part of, play the part of, act, take the role of, enact, represent, perform, appear as, portray, depict, impersonate, pretend to be, execute, render, interpret 3.1no object Perform in a theatrical production or on film. he was proud to be playing opposite a famous actor Example sentencesExamples He has also played in Irish language productions at the Abbey Theatre. Taylor might as well have been playing opposite a wooden Indian for all the response she got from him. In The Silver Fleet, she plays opposite another star of the London stage, Ralph Richardson. 3.2 Put on or take part in (a theatrical performance or concert) the show was one of the best we ever played Example sentencesExamples Their run came to a fitting climax last week when they played their final concert of the season to another full house. He played a concert at the hall where I worked before I came here. Hayes is due to play a concert at the House Of Blues in New Orleans tomorrow. Still, it could be a bit late to become interested in their music, since they've just played their last concerts. The Galway band continued to grow their fan base by playing gigs up and down the country, sometimes headlining, sometimes supporting. They will play a concert at Bolton's Albert Halls on Saturday before the orchestra. Jools Holland is playing an open-air concert near Tunbridge Wells soon. Bryan Ferry is in Auckland at the moment playing concerts tomorrow and Sunday. Robbie had always wanted to be the first British artist to play a concert in the new Wembley Stadium when it opens next summer. Retired John said: ‘Clare now lives in Bath but pops up to visit or stays with us when she's playing a concert up north.’ Kissin plays around 40 concerts a year, which is one possible explanation for the fact that he never seems to tire of playing the piano. She will also play her first concert in Wales at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on July 30. The Rolling Stones played their debut concert at the Marquee club in London in 1962. Not only is he alive, but he's healthy, just short of 60 and still playing packed-out concerts. Waterford is never far from his heart, however, and he usually plays at least one gig in his home city. The Monkees played a post-game concert there after a Rapids match. The band recently played a concert at the Beacon Court Tavern in his home town of Gillingham. The Sligo trio have spoke several times of their burning desire to play a concert in their home town. As of this month, I've rejoined my old band as the drummer, and we'll be playing at least four shows in March. Shankar learned vocals from the age of two, violin from age five and played his first concert at seven. Synonyms put on, present, produce, give 3.3 Give a dramatic performance at (a particular theater or place). Example sentencesExamples He was sheer magic at Garter Lane on his previous visit and should not be missed when he plays the Theatre Royal. Presumably he couldn't resist playing a home town gig on Good Friday, taking him home for the Easter hols. I've just tried booking tickets to see Kraftwerk, as I heard they were playing Brixton Academy on 20th March next year. It had been four years since Blur last played the capital, let us hope that the same amount of time does not have to elapse before the next batch of dates. He even found time to return to the US, playing venues down the East and West coast, from Boston to Los Angeles. A man who holds a special place in the Irish comic imagination, Brendan always brings the house down in venues he plays around the world. This is the National Theatre's touring production - if it plays anywhere near you, do not miss it. That line-up played Brixton Academy and a couple of other gigs until Mark left. The brilliant Backbeat Beatles play the Pavilion Theatre in Bournemouth on Monday. Next time they play their home town they deserve to be playing to a packed house. Then, at the end of the year, I'll be playing a few venues up and down the country, such as the Armadillo in Glasgow. The days of playing unglamorous locations like the South Morang Hotel are all over. Reynolds plays the Green Room Sunday night and the Railway Club on Wednesday. With another couple of live sets under their belts they played the Universe 2 party one year later. I know that I'm going to be playing New York for sure. I played some fantastic theatres and worked with some great people. Suzanne Vega plays the City Hall, Salisbury on 27 June. Having played both cities on numerous occasions, the differences are significant. Tonight he plays Glasgow for the first time in years, and I can't decide whether to go or not. 3.4 Behave as though one were (a specified type of person) the skipper played the innocent, but smuggled goods were found on his vessel Example sentencesExamples But in the meantime John is more than happy to stay at home and play dad. As a young girl, Cora had always enjoyed playing the nurse for her brother or her cousins. Don't play the innocent with me, Gisela - you do this for your benefit as well as mine. She stood in the corner playing the shy bride in her long red bridal dress. A cynic would say that people enjoy playing the victim and jumping on the grief bandwagon, they enjoy the attention and the sympathy. His call for an early election was an attempt to play the hero again. 3.5play someone for Treat someone as being of (a specified type) don't imagine you can play me for a fool Example sentencesExamples Someone had played me for a sucker and I was going to make sure he - or she - paid for it. Are you just playing Rob for a sucker, Amber? A councillor has accused a brewery of playing Bexley Council for a mug over a pub's opening hours. She plays him for a fool, often feigning helplessness just to see what lengths he will go to in order to prove his love for her. She and Bruce have been playing me for a fool since the beginning. 4with object Perform on (a musical instrument) we heard someone playing a harmonica no object a pianist who will play for us Example sentencesExamples Their sons are still around a lot: Cameron, 22, a musician, is playing the piano when we arrive. There are certain dogs that sing whenever someone plays an accordion or a harmonica. While Natalie was calling my mom, I heard someone start playing the drums really loud. He was a keen musician and played the guitar in a local band. In the meantime May taught at a school by day and played guitar by night. Payne got his harmonica out and another guy was playing the piano. At a corner near the Peace Memorial, a group of musicians were playing the drums. So, when I saw that David Crosby and Graham Nash were playing at the new concert hall I just booked tickets, knowing my parents would want to come. Her professional singing career started when a night club owner insisted that she either sang while she played piano, or lost her job. She was greatly impressed when she heard Len playing his guitar, and even more impressed with how he could play the piano. The meal got off to a slightly odd note as a wandering band of minstrels invaded the restaurant and played accordion and guitar loudly. We seemed to like the same songs and besides, he played the guitar better than anyone else I knew. He loved to play his guitar and harmonica and listen to gospel and bluegrass music. By the summer they were playing at all the major festivals. Hannah was playing the piano and singing when she heard a voice behind her. On Friday night we went to see a friend's band playing at a local pub. A short distance away from us there was a grand piano being played softly by a woman in a green dress. Big doors open on to a plant-filled terrace where a jazz band plays on Saturday evenings. Sandra would sit there on her bed for hours singing songs and playing her guitar like no one could stop her. As a teenager he played guitar and harmonica with local bands and skiffle and rock ‘n’ roll groups. 4.1 Possess the skill of performing on (a musical instrument) he taught himself to play the violin Example sentencesExamples He taught himself how to play the guitar, and Clapton's ballad was the first song he learned. It was Max's grandpa who taught him to play the accordion and speak some Russian. Justin s parents began to teach him how to play the piano and the flute when he was about eight years old. Mr McGovern has written almost 70 songs and taught himself to play the guitar at 18. His mother, a middle school guidance counselor, plays both clarinet and violin. As a young boy he played the flute, but later took up playing the violin. She has taught herself to play rhythm guitar and also plays piano and violin. Caleb has always had a passion for music and is learning to play the violin and bass guitar. Although singing or playing an instrument is a learned skill, it also is an art. I've been playing the piano and guitar since I was in the third grade and I turn 38 later this year. As well as playing the flute Rosie plays the piano, violin, guitar and sings. I have always begged Nick to teach me to play the guitar but every time he has an excuse not to. Billy is still playing two nights a week and he taught his eight children to play musical instruments. I bought him a little drum kit and guitar and he could play the piano from when he was a toddler. He plays the piano and French horn and teaches music to help pay his way through uni. Anxious for the boy's future, his father, William, taught him to play the piano from library books. You might want to learn a new skill such as painting or playing a musical instrument, or consider taking up a new sport such as fishing or golf. Franz learnt to play the piano and the violin from his father and brothers, and later the viola. Evora also plays the violin and performed in her high school's symphony for three years. David was a natural musician who taught himself to play the piano after watching a female pianist at his local pub. Synonyms perform on, make music on 4.2 Produce (notes) from a musical instrument; perform (a piece of music) they played a violin sonata Example sentencesExamples A year later, she was playing the Bach Double Violin Concerto under Menuhin. Inconspicuously, a three piece ensemble plays background music. The group will play works by Mozart and Weber, and a selection of light classics. As we walked on stage for our first gig the crowd went wild - and we hadn't played a note. He plays Khachaturian's violin concerto next Friday in the opening concert of the NSO's national tour. They broke into spontaneous clapping, cheering and whistling when the Band of the Irish Guards played Happy Birthday for the Queen at the end of the parade as a surprise. You only have to listen to them play music and perform to see how good they are. They play the same pieces more than once in a season with different conductors. Colin Dean played some pieces on the organ, notably a fantasia by Farnaby. She sat down at the piano in front of her copy of the music and played a few random notes, humming along. The best pieces of American Jazz music will be played and performed on stage. This is a work for violin and piano, here played by Leopold Avakian and Mitchell Andrews. They shared a love of music and they would play violin sonatas together, Einstein on the violin and Born on piano. As part of the service, Mr Needham's favourite piece of music was played. The concertmaster played a note on his violin and Lev tuned his instrument to it. They will be playing music by Bradford-born Frederick Delius among other composers. Paddy, who is a noted musician, played a number of tunes on the violin and was in his usual good form. When you get there, a jazz group is quietly playing Scott Joplin to an appreciative audience lounging on the grass. Pupils played classical pieces as well as songs from films and shows. The first piece was played so quietly and sensitively that it clearly affected the huge audience. 4.3 Make (a music player, disc, radio, etc.) produce sounds. Example sentencesExamples I mean nobody plays my records any more… I've got this single coming out right, and who's gonna play it? She plays a few tracks from Sao Vicente Di Longe, an album by a Cape Verde singer called Cesaria Evora. She spent half a day explaining The Beatles to me and playing me their music. A number of new tracks were also played, including the impressive Blonde Ambition. Write in to any radio stations you know of and demand that they play this record. Mr Warren said that it had been proposed to play the video without the sound. Others suggest that if a major artist did record a protest song, no US radio station would play it. They don't stay up all night playing rather loud music, and banging all the house doors. On the coach back we came down gently while listening to the cricket that the driver insisted on playing on the radio. I played the title track again and again, drugged up to the eyeballs on morphine. Local radio stations are also interested in playing her work, which Sam compares in style with that of Alanis Morissette. I am making a great big mental note to play this album an awful lot more than I normally do. They don't want the ice cream man in their neighborhood because the music he plays wakes up their kid. We can't even play the radio in our shop without the Peforming Rights Society wanting a royalty from it. By 9 pm, I had watched a dvd and played some records, and I was ready for something else. Sometimes, just every now and again they play a track I actually like. Still, I didn't really want to be there listening to the DJs playing records, I wanted to see the main act. And a third of adults use digital, satellite and cable TV to play the new radio stations. She could faintly hear the radio being played and Shawn humming to the beat. These re-enactments were videotaped and the videos were played in court. He insists on leaving one overcrowded ruin of an apartment building because another refugee plays his radio too loudly. 4.4no object (of a musical instrument, music player, radio, etc.) produce sounds. somewhere within, a harp was playing Example sentencesExamples The National Anthem plays over the sound system. We then walked in silence to the studio, where the last record was still playing. The short-wave radio was playing a soft sound from the American Music Network. He pauses to savour the Kylie Minogue song playing over the bar sound system. Some kind of Indian stringed instrument is playing quietly over loudspeakers, adding a hint of exoticism. He tilts his head to one side, listening to music playing in the shop. He lights a cigarette, and as the song plays on the radio, he questions his life - Was his daddy right, is he wasting his life? He leaves the front door slightly ajar to hear the early Dylan and Stones records playing from inside. Bright Eyes was playing over the sound system and I felt much better, despite being soaked to the bone. The organ started playing as we entered, and the sound was truly heavenly. The jukebox is playing Jazz music and musical notes seem to be floating through the room. 4.5 Accompany (someone) with music as they are moving in a specified direction. the bagpipes played them out of the dining room Example sentencesExamples The procession then moved on the Town Hall to be played in by a pianist performing the ‘Uist Tramping Song’. Brother James, would you play the girls in please? 5no object Move lightly and quickly, so as to appear and disappear; flicker. a smile played about her lips Example sentencesExamples Underneath the floppy hair and the trademark goatee, there is a smile playing on his lips, a twinkle in his eye. Alexandra's face held an innocent expression, a faint smile playing across her lips. Hope pulled back to look at him for a second, a soft smile playing across her lips. A small smile played across his lips as he saw her standing awkwardly by the door. Multicolored lights played over the audience, and a disco ball hung in the middle of the ceiling. A weak beam of light suddenly played round the bar, as Diane returned with a torch, and a lantern with a tea light. She stirred in her sleep at this, and he chuckled a little, his hand still playing lightly over her hair. I looked at Chris out of the corner of my eye and saw that he had a satisfied smile playing across his lips. But what was so cool was this little smile playing constantly on his lips, as though he was having a private joke inside his head. A grim smile played briefly on his lips and she knew she wasn't fooling him one bit. I peeked around the corner of the alleyway and spotted some shadows playing across the ground via the moonlight. A smile played across her lips as she thought of telling Randy she would be leaving soon. Pulling the door shut behind her, she leaned against it, a light smile playing across her lips. I stopped in front of our garden and Robert stopped as well, a smile playing upon his lips. She turned to her brother, who had a small smile playing across his lips. His soft babyish snores caused her heart to melt and a light smile played upon her lips. His eyes showed an active intelligence and a wry smile played across his lips. He shook his head, a tiny smile playing over his lips. The light from the torches played across her face as she drifted into slumber. The dim light of dawn played lightly on the morning dew which had gathered on the window glass over night. Synonyms move lightly, dance, flit, dart, ripple, lick, touch 5.1 (of a fountain or similar source of water) emit a stream of gently moving water. Example sentencesExamples In the centre of the lush garden, an elaborate marble fountain played, spraying sparkling jewels of water into the air. The garden was beautiful, plants and shrubs tumbling around a vibrant lawn in the centre of which a fountain tinkled and played. The lawns are mown, the box hedge parterres are neatly clipped and the central fountain plays gently in the sunshine. 6with object Allow (a fish) to exhaust itself pulling against a line before reeling it in. Example sentencesExamples Noel was very unlucky not to catch the larger pike as he had played the fish well. It wasn't long before a fish appeared and I soon was playing my second fish of the day. Remember the whole rod should be used in playing the fish. Holding the rod high whilst playing a fish is often a recipe for disaster, especially when the fish is close to the boat. We spotted that the boat nearest to us had an angler playing a fish and that same fish leapt right in front of our path. nounpleɪplā 1Activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children. a child at play may use a stick as an airplane Example sentencesExamples I could see small disturbances on the water where schools of fish were at play. Their archive, now in the National Library, features many images of the little girls at play. The current school is in an extended house and has very small classrooms and little space for outdoor play for the children. The 2,000 parents surveyed said their children were losing the art of inventive, imaginative play. It elicits an almost nostalgic mood and has many fine shots of shops, pubs and children at play. A picnic area alongside is a great place to sit and relax whilst watching the animals at play. He certainly doesn't bring to mind the stuffy polo and shooting image of British royalty at play. The Artist's Studio provides an intimate portrait of him at work and at play. While at play, toddlers and young children are usually in the care of older siblings. Youngsters in a Bradford village are calling for more play activities to help cut vandalism. The Playstore is your best source for quality wooden and natural toys for creative and imaginative play. A person may prefer to work with an intense dedication that precludes recreation and play. In any case, children can learn a great many social skills by watching animals at play. Play areas, and the equipment in them, should be developed to encourage adventurous play. The children introduced themselves through song and words and we watched them at play. The sounds of children at play can be heard. In play, children create an imaginary situation in which rules of behaviour are formulated. There's a pause in the game, and the TV begins showing cute little kittens at play. You'll notice she still enjoys very active play and will love running around the playground or park. It was a peaceful, innocent scene, two families at play and celebrating a holiday that meant everything to them. Synonyms amusement, entertainment, relaxation, recreation, enjoyment, pleasure, diversion, distraction, leisure, fun, games, fun and games 1.1 Behavior or speech that is not intended seriously. I flinched, but only in play Example sentencesExamples Teach kids to respect the cat, and do not allow them to chase or corner the cat even in play. Gordy and Stevie were fighting, but Rhiannon knew it was only in play. 1.2as modifier Designed to be used in games of pretense; not real. play families are arranged in play houses 2The conducting of an athletic match or contest. rain interrupted the second day's play Example sentencesExamples The first day's play on Friday was restricted to 10.2 overs. Players cannot touch the sides or floor of the pool, and must tread water even when not involved in play. Incidentally Kim has gone down clutching his ankle so there's going to be a break in play. England was 80 for one when bad light finally halted a frustrating day's play with 30 overs still remaining. The first half took time to catch fire as play was constantly interrupted by the referee's whistle. Each day's play starts at 10 am. However he is not very sympathetic when describing poor skill on the field of play. In addition, cricket has breaks in play between overs every three or four minutes. He did admit that he had felt in charge of the match before play was halted. The game opened in the same vein as it was to continue with the play constantly interrupted by fouls. Ingrow St John's looked to be coasting to victory at home to Chatburn when play was interrupted. In the second half, play was constantly disrupted by both sides making a number of substitutions. The Regiment formed a guard of honour before today's play commenced. For the first day golfers played 18 holes to determine their placing on the second day of play. During the interval the referee walked the pitch trying to decide whether there was enough light for play to continue. They were up against it in this match too, conceding a goal after just 35 seconds of play. Schofield looked less assured when he finally came on to bowl, going for nine runs in his only over before bad light ended play. After two hours and 17 minutes of play the match was abandoned with Greenock on 136 for three. He bowled his heart out and all credit to him for livening up the final day's play. Germany's thoughtful coach Rudi Voller used the break in play to throw water-bottles to his players. 2.1 The action or manner of engaging in a sport or game. he maintained the same rhythm of play throughout the game Example sentencesExamples His balance is good, his footwork is excellent and his offensive play is there for all to see - it has been superb. He has good speed, but he needs to avoid the silly mistakes that have plagued his play. With play moving fast up and down field the defences on each side were getting the better of the forward lines. This year, though, he has wisely kept his mouth shut and let his play do the talking. The first half was close with neither side gaining dominance in any area of play. He had eight doubles, a triple and two home runs in his first month of major league play. There was a slightly frantic, nervous element to their play after they conceded a needless goal. The referee had very little to do in this match such was the standard of play and sportsmanship. His play in October has enhanced his standing as one of the game's top young hitters. For many years they were treated to glorious attacking play which won football matches. The wind was making it difficult for both sides and the quality of play did not match that of the first half. Then in the final minutes of the match some good driving play by Athy saw Gorey concede a penalty. Superb play by Dave Armstrong earned him the man of the match award and a goal. I think our style of play means we always risk conceding goals but we try to mitigate that with good attacks. There was zest and quick movement to United's play despite spells of control by Rangers. Today, we have got used to watching almost constant attacking play. Saturday's match had plenty of open play but solid defences proved hard to breach at both ends of the pitch. Their half-back followed up a good break and saw his support play rewarded with the try. The crowds in the St Jakobshalle took instantly to Murray's style of play and his expressive personality. The visitors just about deserved their victory for their more incisive back play. 2.2 The status of the ball in a game as being available to be played according to the rules. the ball was put in play Example sentencesExamples If a ball runs out of play or into the goal, the ref is alerted by a device on his wrist. Sure, there may be a few more aces than in the past, but a lot more balls are put back into play too. The free-kick ends up being played into the corner, but Onder Turaci fails to keep it in play. The ball goes out of play and he gets to his feet with the air about him of a man who'd settle for a corner. It was struck well but the ball hit the cross bar and bounced back into play. Irwin had already been booked for a foul when he played on after the ball was judged to have gone out of play. Emre goes down injured and the ball is put out of play so that he can receive treatment. Those who struggle to get a ball airborne or keep it in play should probably think twice. Prop Howard Carr kicked a penalty into touch and the ball bounced back into play after hitting a tree. Windass kept the ball in play and ferried it back to Morrison but there was no conviction about his shot. For example, the rules of tennis clearly specify when a ball is in play and when it is out of play. The ball was on the verge of going out of play, so the angle was rather narrow. Greece sportingly kick the ball out of play as the duo try to clear their heads. All three hit cracking drives, and all three were reduced to hacking their second shots back into play. But it was nice to get hold of the ball as quickly as possible and get it back into play. It just puts too much of a demand on the rest of your game, so you have to keep the ball in play. From the free, the ball goes out of play for an Irish throw deep inside their own half. So why not let the computer decide when a ball is in play and keep time for us. David Hagen knocked the ball out of play but inexplicably a corner, not a goal kick, was awarded. He walks off the pitch to get treatment, Nigeria kick the ball out of play so he can come back on. 2.3 The state of being active, operative, or effective. luck comes into play Example sentencesExamples The Corsa comes with electric power steering, which only comes into play when needed. Bravery and heroism come into play when a person potentially puts the safety of others before their own. He has been guilty of significant mistakes; but there is another agenda at play here. The US Government's Bureau of Labor says there may be unusual seasonal factors at play in the figures. I suspect there is an element of wounded national pride at play here. There are, of course, a number of policy considerations in play here, some in conflict. The choices are his to make, but the forces at play in his life are far beyond his control. But there was more than thwarted ambition and ministerial rivalry at play here. For those who like to invest, the shares part of the ISA comes into play. It is only when more than two teams finish level on points and they have all beaten one another that run rate comes into play. The most likely explanation is that all of these factors were in play. It was a compelling theory, but Sarah was well aware that there had been other factors in play. This is where personal campaigning by influential people here comes into play. I personally think that the whole argument about civil liberties comes into play again. The fitness we worked so hard on, that's when it all comes into play, when the season gets gruelling. The enemy artillery comes into play and a hail of bullets starts to rain down. So much for the various competing, and conflicting interests that are in play. Once your income exceeds this tax-free figure, a series of tax bands then comes into play. It only leaves the cynics to presume that maybe other motives are in play. There are a number of factors at play here, just one of which is the fact that eating badly is cheaper, unfortunately. Synonyms action, activity, operation, movement, motion, agency, employment, working, function, functioning, exercise, interaction, interplay 2.4 A move or maneuver in a sport or game. the best play is to lead the 3 of clubs Example sentencesExamples There were some exceptional fielding plays on both sides in this game. Try and get some of the young players in the league to sit around after a game and rehash the plays. He makes good adjustments to the ball and seems to be in on every play from scrimmage. The players had been told and shown all Salford's inside plays around the rucks and they knew how to counteract them. He always makes the right play, and he even makes the plays you don't think he can make. When the ball is in flight, he has a history of attacking it and making the big play. It's the most exciting play for a catcher, and when you do it and do it right, it feels good. That's what is most important to them - having a field that helps them make the plays that win the game. They were one or two plays away from winning all three games. Don't try new shots, plays, or moves in the heat of battle, especially if you haven't practiced them. At moments in a game great plays are needed, no matter what the defense, and the superstar shifts gears. He has good vision and hockey sense, and he can make plays and score big goals. On one play, he got the ball on the right side and began dribbling toward the baseline. They are making the skilled, individual plays the team has been lacking the past few years. His playing time has been reduced to about 20 plays per game, mostly on passing downs. But Woodson is getting more chances to make big plays in the passing game this season. The truly great players make critical defensive plays, hit big shots and hit crucial free throws down the stretch. He must prove to scouts he can stay healthy and give a solid effort on every play. Young and Rice hook up for a 44-yard touchdown on the third play from scrimmage. He is strong enough to play off blocks and make plays in the running game and agile enough to be an asset in coverage. Synonyms turn, go 2.5archaic Gambling. Example sentencesExamples A gentleman complained to Talleyrand of having been insulted by a charge of cheating at play. 3A dramatic work for the stage or to be broadcast. the actors put on a new play Example sentencesExamples In 1913, she found a job on the Winnipeg Telegraph and also appeared in a number of plays at the local theatre. The association of music and drama goes back all the way to ancient Greece with the plays of Euripides and Sophocles. Its lively resident theater group stages musicals, plays, readings, and concerts here all year. Akira Kurosawa made three films based on Shakespeare plays. This Pinter play lives up to the writer's reputation for delivering tightly crafted plays with unexpected twists. I went to see a double bill of two plays by Harold Pinter. A short season of lunchtime performances will begin this July with a play by Canadian playwright Daniel MacIvor. The future of an ambitious project to stage all the Shakespeare plays is in doubt after the resignation of its director. He has written two children's plays entitled the Brown Man and the Donkey Prince. Her career has included stage roles in plays by Shakespeare, Chekhov and Ibsen. Theatregoers have a choice of two plays on most nights with opportunities to see the entire programme in just one week. From creating skits, he moved into writing one-act plays and finally into creating full-length dramas. The couple have attended the Christmas plays at the school every year since Daniel was five. The show was picked as one of the top ten plays at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival when it was first performed there. The group have staged many fine plays and performances here in the past. At the close of the play resolutions are being made, and new friendships look to have a promising future. It is a dark play about a married couple who try to deal with the death of their son. The play sums up all of the uncertainty of the age, while at the same time bringing the issues and ideas of 18th century England right up to date. Noel Coward's Private Lives is one of those plays beloved of amateur dramatic societies. The Globe Theatre is a reconstruction of the theatre in which Shakespeare's plays were originally staged. Synonyms drama, stage play, stage show, theatrical work, theatrical piece, radio play, television play, teleplay, screenplay, comedy, tragedy, farce, sketch 4The space in or through which a mechanism can or does move. the steering rack was loose, and there was a little play Example sentencesExamples The action is smooth, the cylinder locks up tightly with very little play, and the trigger pull is light and crisp. Since then there's been a lot of play in the steering. Synonyms movement, freedom of movement, free motion, slack, give 4.1 Scope or freedom to act or operate. our policy allows the market to have freer play Example sentencesExamples It also recognises the fact that the free play of markets creates problems for society. Synonyms scope, range, latitude, liberty, licence, freedom, indulgence, free rein, release 5Light and constantly changing movement. the artist exploits the play of light across the surface Example sentencesExamples But this simply melts into a soft play of colours and light as you enter the chapel. He stopped and leaned over the bridge wall to watch the play of light on the river. The play of light through the space has overtones of spirituality and introspection. Be sure to visit at different times of the day and evening to enjoy the play of light. Once lighted, it gives out a kaleidoscopic effect from the play of light on the designs. He frequently focuses on faces and uses the play of light and shadow to potent effect. He was the first photographer really to capture the play of light in interior settings. But you also want to create a play of light and shade on the objects before you, revealing depth, form and mood. You talk a lot about landscape and beauty and the play of light on the northern hills. The deliberate use of an uneven surface allows for the greater play of light. The work conveys a subtle depth and a play of light worthy of a Morandi still life. For a filmmaker there are no more basic elements at work than the play between light and shade. Phrases bring something into play Cause something to begin operating or to have an effect; activate. Example sentencesExamples Extra pairs of hands have been brought into play to ensure a North Yorkshire historic hall is safely ‘put to bed’ for the winter. Of course in order to do all of this, a Digital Rights Management regime has to be brought into play that doesn't rely on locking down music. The organizational genius of Lazare Carnot was brought into play to help turn a revolutionary rabble into a properly equipped fighting force. In December 2003 new technology was brought into play to fight the battle of icy roads. All of his secretarial skills were called into play on this occasion however as young people crowded around him, all wanting to be registered quickly and get on the water. These disciplinary procedures can be brought into play even where a patient has not suffered because of the breach of confidence. Here the entire information base of the tradition is likely to be called into play, by both opponents and supporters of the tradition. Assessments by psychologists with a specialty in end-of-life issues could be brought into play. It is not unusual at Celtic Park for the services of a behavioural expert to be brought into play, although this is normally for the study of referees. The fall-out will be even worse should the not proven verdict be called into play. Synonyms use, employ, exercise, make use of, utilize, avail oneself of, put to use bring into play, bring into service, arouse, generate, induce, cause, resort to, awaken, deploy, waken, excite, incite, provoke, foment, prompt, stimulate, stir up, impel, galvanize, urge, encourage, inspire, whip up make a play for informal Attempt to attract or attain. Example sentencesExamples You'll never believe who Trina Matheson made a play for! Waterford Wedgwood has said it has no intention yet of making a play for the company itself but many analysts believe it would use its sizeable stake to block anyone else getting their hands on it. Jim Moran of Virginia is making a play for the leadership. He was talking to other friends when he noticed another man making a play for his girlfriend. The buying spree lasted from October 2004 to January 2005 and Mr Lynch's activity convinced analysts he was attempting to make a play for the group. Speaking only for myself, I can't imagine making a play for a straight guy. But he withdrew from consideration, making a play for a position of vice president instead. The poor chap's probably aching for a spot of home cooking and, if you ask him for a meal with one or two others, he needn't feel you're making a play for him. Kerry Gill, the editor of the Scottish edition of the Daily Express, last night lashed out at a rival paper for making a play for his readers. ‘Developers are making a play for downtown residential space, taking advantage of of tax incentives and loans from the city of Jacksonville,’ the report says. Synonyms make sexual advances to, make advances to, make sexual overtures to, proposition, make a sexual approach to make (great) play of (or with) Draw attention to in an ostentatious manner, typically to gain prestige or advantage. the company made great play of its recent growth in profits Example sentencesExamples In November 2002, the UK media made great play of the fact that a passenger was able to travel to Zambia on her husband's passport. Both reported strong results but, more significantly, made play of the fact that they are the kind of company clients turn to during a downturn because they supply more ‘cost-effective’ solutions. They made great play of the fact they've spent £300,000 on redecorating the place. The US, British, Japanese, Canadian and European governments all made great play of their desire to help the world's poorest countries. The revised figure is an embarrassment for the Government, which has made great play of its success in bringing the backlog down from a record high of 103,000 at the start of last year. He makes great play of his non-establishment (meaning non-public school, and non-Oxbridge) background. For all their perceived monetary difficulties, Hibs continue to make great play of plans to build two football academy-type centres, though both proposals are proceeding slowly. He even makes great play of the fact that he used to be right-wing. McConnell has made great play of promising that the extra £3.2bn invested in the Scottish health service over the next five years will not simply be a blank cheque. Hostile contemporary commentators naturally made great play with alleged waste at court, castigating a spendthrift queen Marie-Antoinette in particular. play both ends against the middle Keep one's options open by supporting or favoring opposing sides. Example sentencesExamples How do you know that he's not playing both ends against the middle? Like him, he was a brilliant speaker and lawyer and played both ends against the middle. He is trying to play both ends against the middle. The only catch is that Stoker's been losing so many fights that his manager - playing both ends against the middle - doesn't feel compelled to let Stoker know he's been contracted to take a dive in the third round. Big Oil is hardly blameless and at the start was no doubt trying to play both ends against the middle. It is critical that the parents develop a civil means of communication, such as by e-mail or communication book, or Alex will take advantage of the lacuna to play both ends against the middle. play something by ear 1Perform music without having to read from a score. Example sentencesExamples For relaxation he played the piano by ear, favouring Chopin's Etudes. Almost every Kazak knows how to sing and play a musical instrument by ear. Today he still can't read music; he plays instruments by ear. He was born into a family of musicians, and by the age of four he could play any tune by ear. Later on, I discovered I could play the piano by ear and it became my passion. He taught himself to play a bit by ear, amused the rowdy crowds, and picked up small change. Have you truly achieved mastery of your instrument if you cannot play it by ear? He learned to play the piano by ear, developing a talent for improvisation which, years later, he would put to good use during the filming of America: A Personal History of the United States. 1.1informal Proceed instinctively according to results and circumstances rather than according to rules or a plan. Example sentencesExamples Though his parents believe studies and going to a university are important, they are going to play it by ear. I'm not sure what's on the itinerary; we'll just play it by ear; might visit a gallery, go for something to eat, etc. Unless you're specifically dating to get married, or you have some sort of long-term plan from the start, isn't a lot safer to play it by ear? ‘There are storms forecast for later in the week but we are just playing it by ear,’ said trainer Michael Jarvis. That's a decision for the future, and we'll play it by ear. We are just playing it by ear and waiting to see what is going to happen. We'll play quite a lot of tunes from the latest LP, but usually we play it by ear and see how the gig's going and then throw in some tracks from the older albums. I haven't made any decisions; I'm just going to play it by ear. I can't predict how it's going to go, though, so I'll just play it by ear. We haven't got any plans as yet, and we don't know when the next thing will be and we're just kind of playing it by ear. Synonyms improvise, extemporize, rise to the occasion, ad lib improvise, extemporize, ad lib play by the rules Follow what is generally held to be the correct line of behavior. Example sentencesExamples The belief that if one works hard and plays by the rules, one will have a reasonable chance of succeeding as a child and an adult (the American Dream) is a central organizing and motivating force in our society. The system should be there for people who are playing by the rules - if they can work they should, if they can't we look after them as a community. Michael Buchan claims that he and his fellow Scottish white fish producers are being penalised for playing by the rules. Capone is a Jamaican cop who refuses to play by the rules. He defended the £20,000 poured into the marginal seats of Romsey and Eastleigh by party treasurer Lord Ashcroft for campaigns, saying the party was playing by the rules and not using an unfair advantage. The role of an umpire and a judge is critical to make sure everybody plays by the rules. If it became too difficult to obtain parole then they could create a faction of dissident prisoners who will see no incentive in playing by the rules and addressing their offending behaviour. Compulsory schooling defines good citizens as those who play by the rules, stay in line, and do as they're told. To win in a competition, it is often necessary to avoid playing by the rules. They feel betrayed because they work hard and play by the rules and expect a fair chance to compete in the world economy. Synonyms play fair, be fair, play by the rules, abide by the rules, follow the rules, conform, be a good sport, toe the line, keep in step play fair Observe principles of justice; avoid cheating. Example sentencesExamples It was maddening to see skiers I knew to be playing fair, guys who trained their hearts out with little financial reward, lose to the cheaters. We believe our customers want the security of a bank which is here for the long term, which plays fair and has no nasty surprises up its sleeve. IOC president Jacques Rogge encouraged athletes to play fair. To continue the footballing analogy, it is like asking footballers to sign a formal declaration before each game that they will not cheat and will always play fair. An African sugar farmer has visited Manchester to try to persuade traders and politicians to play fair when buying his produce. That's a big boast, but the bill does not contain that much by way of safeguards for punters, and there is nothing at all to say that bookmakers must play fair by clients, even those who win. But over the past fortnight, Hunter and Gorman have been reduced to defending their integrity and business dealings against accusations that they failed to play fair. If they broke rules, why should we now be expected to play fair? To Sam this wasn't playing fair, but they soon found out that despite clauses in the contract of sale that forbade such enterprises there was pragmatically not much they could do. There is in fact no yardstick by which one country can be judged to be playing fair in its trade relations with others. Synonyms play fair, be fair, play by the rules, abide by the rules, follow the rules, conform, be a good sport, toe the line, keep in step play someone false Prove treacherous or deceitful toward someone. Example sentencesExamples Sophia now sees that he has played her false. He is not her true love. His post-1934 correspondence and memoirs frequently contradict reliable accounts of the period, and the conclusion that his memory played him false on numerous occasions is inescapable. Synonyms betray, cheat, defraud, trick, hoodwink, mislead, deceive, swindle, break one's promise to, be disloyal to, be unfaithful to, break faith with, play false, fail, let down play fast and loose Behave irresponsibly or immorally. Example sentencesExamples This film about the Latin American revolutionary plays fast and loose with the facts. As a historian and also a lover of the arts, Marshall has no problem with Schiller's playing fast and loose with the facts. It appears that someone was playing fast and loose with the facts. This is the norm in overseas universities, where academics caught making up ‘evidence,’ doctoring lab results and playing fast and loose with the facts get into an awful lot of trouble. Practicing cheap and dirty politics, playing fast and loose with the facts and even lying: Accusations like these, and worse, have been slung nonstop this year. Many people around Scotland's coasts have done very nicely for decades out of taking too many fish from the sea, failing to plan for stock regeneration and playing fast and loose with European fisheries quotas. Meanwhile, Chris, one of his students, is blazing away at his own novel, a historical saga that plays fast and loose with the facts about Mary, Queen of Scots. Like Atkinson he will risk abuse if he plays fast and loose with the story. You already noted that Moore plays fast and loose with the facts, and mildly criticized him for it. While on the topic of movies; Ridley Scott's latest movie venture on the Crusades has earned him the the ire of history academics who have accused him of playing fast and loose with the truth. Synonyms trifle, toy, play, amuse oneself, flirt, play fast and loose, tinker, philander, womanize, carry on play favorites Show favoritism toward someone or something. Example sentencesExamples How could I ever play favourites between these two. They crowded around her, and Koko, who plays favourites, asked one woman wearing red to come closer. Many smash repairers say the insurance companies are going too far, and playing favourites, even amongst the preferred repairers. People were swearing at me the whole time and accusing me of playing favourites. I won't start naming them cause I don't want to play favourites. She didn't play favourites: she treated me just as she would any of her other students, calling on me to answer questions, say words. It was announced only that the climate in the team was not good, and that he had played favourites with some players. I think the publisher is just playing favourites and I'm very offended. ‘I'm the prime minister of Australia, you have to understand I don't play favourites between different parts of the country, ‘he said.’ You could tell the teacher played favourites, and that I wouldn't be one of them. play for time Use specious excuses or unnecessary maneuvers to gain time. Example sentencesExamples They're playing for time and our position is they should not be allowed to do that. And he played for time, urging the U.S. to be patient. The Government - pleading realpolitik, invoking the national interest and playing for time - seem to have pacified, at least on the surface, an angry public. I would urge Bolton Council to tell the developers to stop playing for time, get this through the planning committee once and for all, and reject this application in any form. Many commentators believe the Government is simply playing for time. It is possible that investors who rejected its advances on Friday were merely playing for time given that there is a bid on the table, and maybe a higher one to follow. They could opt to follow the tobacco industry and play for time, which you'd have to say has worked out very well for tobacco firms. Instead he reaches for his glass, hoping to play for time - and to get some courage from the wine. Was there anything to be gained by playing for time, trying to learn more of what he might be facing? De Lancourt played for time, telling his creditors that he was expecting a £1000 bank draft - any day. Synonyms use delaying tactics, stall, temporize, gain time, hang back, hang fire, hold back, procrastinate, beat about the bush, drag one's feet, delay, filibuster, stonewall play a (or one's) hunch Make an instinctive choice. Example sentencesExamples When that webpage was completely open, Brant found the site's search engine and played his hunch. Just playing a hunch, but I think that might be our boy. But there will be occasions when they play a hunch or follow an adventurous whim. Go ahead, play your hunch, take the chance, ‘So what it all comes down to is, you're playing a hunch, Gov?’ said Smith. ‘This is no time for playing a hunch,’ Warren warned. play into someone's hands Act in such a way as unintentionally to give someone an advantage. they accused him of playing into the hands of the enemy Example sentencesExamples I think that we are playing into his hands, I don't think that a man like this should be given air time. The American captain, Curtis Strange, may have unwittingly played into Torrance 's hands. I fear I may already be playing into their hands by writing this and giving them more publicity, but I couldn't be silent. Most drivers and team engineers believe that Ferrari's advantage was exaggerated because the cool weather in Melbourne played into their hands. The SNP believes that the First Minister has blundered by playing into their hands. Half way through the third race there was no way I thought I would win but suddenly everything started playing into my hands and I took advantage. When his family rowed with him, he simply began spending even more time with Eyre, playing into his hands. Their forwards did not appear to be of true world class, but France were so hopeless that they played into New Zealand 's hands. When I won, it was blowing a howling gale in the first round, really tough, and that played into my hands. We really gave the ball away far too much and, in the end played into Middlesbrough 's hands. play it cool informal Make an effort to be or appear to be calm and unemotional. Example sentencesExamples He tried to play it cool but I could see that he was nervous. Figuring he was interested, she played it cool. I fell for her too quickly, really, and she played it cool in them days. I was too busy playing it cool to realize how stupid I had just been. I considered playing it cool, and pretending that I knew all along. Obviously I knew what they were talking about but I tried to play it cool, in case it wasn't what I thought it was. Chantelle's heart jumped into her throat but she played it cool. I was trying to play it cool, but once we'd landed and were whisked away to our Grandstand seats, I degenerated into excited schoolboy mode. Mom is playing it cool, but her eyes betray her real emotions. Nevertheless Phil and I absolutely fell for each other but for once in my life I played it cool. play the market Speculate in stocks. Example sentencesExamples If you have more than 25 years you can afford to really play the market and put most of your investments in the stock market. He took loans against his credit cards, home equity loans, and whatever else he could get to play the market. Of course if you want to speculate or play the market, you need to acknowledge that you are taking on board, or you're voluntarily assuming, a degree of risk. If you still can't make an informed decision after an intensive study of research reports, prospectuses and the financial figures a company puts out, you are probably not meant to play the market. If you have the foresight to start planning when your child is still an infant, you will be much freer to play the market and make higher risk, higher return investments in a 15 to 18-year period. He attributes his success to playing the market rather than investing in it. For most stock market investors, whether pension funds or individuals playing the market from their home PC, short-term growth is the goal. Indeed, the results of BusinessWeek's annual survey of the 500 biggest offshore funds show that, in spite of all the gloom and doom, it's possible to play the market and win. Virtually every dollar he got his hands on, right to the end of his life in 1950, was lost playing the market. Shareholders in western corporations are usually motivated to play the market for just one thing: money. Synonyms gamble, take a chance, take a risk, venture, take a venture, wager a play on words A pun. Example sentencesExamples ‘The title's a play on words, really,’ he explains. By his own admission, the self-congratulatory title is actually a play on words based on the legendary Studio One in Kingston. The headline, ‘The Last Anchor,’ is a play on words: ‘anchor’ as in anchorman and also any object that secures firmly. He said: ‘The youth church will be called Sorted, which is a bit of a play on words, because as well as being a trendy, youth culture word, ‘soter’ is Greek for salvation. The word Utopia, in More's hands, is actually a play on words. It is called sound geometry and is just a play on words really because the CD's are about sound usually and it is a very geometrical concept. ‘Modern ‘readers of this book are in for a pleasant surprise from the outset - its very title turns out to be a play on words.’ For those of you out there who didn't realise it was a play on words. Why is something less ‘obscene’ because it's a play on words? I was unprepared, though, for the excellence of chef Willie Little's establishment Exceed - a play on words which refers to the premises, once the shop and loft for seed merchants. If the title contains subtlety, or a play on words, or something that Germans are unlikely to be able to easily translate, they may go for a different English language title. Synonyms pun, wordplay, double entendre, double meaning, innuendo, witticism, quip, quibble play a part Make a contribution to a situation. social and economic factors may have also played a part he personally wanted to thank those nurses and staff who had played a part in his recovery Example sentencesExamples In practice, elements of all are likely to play a part. The possibly calming effect of having family present for the control group during the intervention could have played a part in the reaction. The survey, carried out by the Co-operative Bank, interviewed 1020 people to see how much ethics play a part in consumer spending. A couple of lineup changes may play a part in Game Three. Mr Simpson said: "The main point of the day was to remember everyone who played a part in D-Day". Evidently the type of vocational emphasis in the chosen school plays a part in early school leaving. A sharp rise in life expectancy has also played a part. The criminal justice system also plays a part in moral education. The financial advantage of being in an Enterprise Zone also played a part. There is, however, a great deal of satisfaction to be gained from playing a part in developing health services. Synonyms contribute to, be instrumental in, be a factor in, be partly responsible for, have a hand in, be conducive to, make for, lead to, cause, give rise to play (or play it) safe (or for safety) Take precautions; avoid risks. Example sentencesExamples The results so far show that women prefer to play it safe than to take risks with their money. Sometimes, in politics as well as in poker, playing safe isn't the best strategy. I've spent so much of my life being afraid, missing out on experiences because I was playing it safe, staying within the lines, doing what was expected of me. Antonio maintains he thought he was playing it safe, because his computer was not directly connected to the Internet. The Academy surprised me last year with some genuinely unconventional choices, but I'm playing it safe here. I'm the kind of person who would rather play it safe and lose out than risk everything and have a chance at winning. She had to weigh up the pros and cons - risk a long time out this spring, or play it safe and maybe miss out on a medal in front of her home crowd. He later said: ‘You don't win gold medals by playing it safe.’ But I decided that playing it safe would be no fun at all. He has never concealed the fact that he is a moderate politician who plays safe, so he is not about to stick his neck out. play a trick (or joke) on Behave in a deceptive or teasing way toward. Example sentencesExamples Derek heard it too, I thought someone was playing a joke on us but there was no one there. I stared at the arrow for a few moments, making sure that my eyes weren't playing a trick on me. Mr White, from near Southampton, had been asleep on the sofa when they decided to play a joke on him. It's got to be one of our friends playing a joke on us.' Scriptwriter Ronan Bennett plays a trick on the audience. Are you sure it's not someone playing a trick on you? Maybe someone's just playing a trick on me to freak me out. Hey, maybe we can play a joke on Mom with something from the gift shop. This time, I decided to play a joke on my parents. I was still kind of angry because I thought that maybe somebody was playing a trick on me, or something. ‘They're playing a joke on us,’ he shouted back. John is so astonished by his wife's behavior that he believes her to be mentally ill (after initially thinking she's playing a joke on him). It turns out to be Elaine, who was playing a joke on him. In Peter's last class, he decided to play a joke on the students by saying that they had an oral exam. She said: ‘When I received the phone call saying that I had won the car, I hung up the phone on them because I thought it was someone playing a joke on me.’ She was hoping that maybe her mind was just playing a trick on her. October 31 is a time when children go around ‘trick or treating’ dressed as witches and ghosts and threatening to play a trick on those who do not give them sweets. Greg is a trendy, barefoot shrink, who plays a trick on his wife, in order to spice up their love life. It doesn't matter, maybe he doesn't want to tell me his name or he was just playing a joke on me the whole time. Maybe they were playing a joke on Heather, did you ever think of that? Synonyms deceive, trick, play a trick on, hoax, dupe, take in, mislead, delude, hoodwink, bluff, beguile, gull, make a fool of, outwit play with oneself informal Masturbate. play with fire Take foolish risks. Example sentencesExamples United manager Ian McCall might be considered to be playing with fire. Going out with a stepbrother is not illegal, but you're playing with fire here. Pretending under age sex does not happen or imposing out-of-touch morals on those who are sexually active is playing with fire. We are playing with fire if we allow such technologies and products, without knowing how to deal with the consequences. Roeder's attempt to ignite his team's season with a player who has courted controversy at almost every turn was described by critics as playing with fire. Now when it comes to technological advances I have no problem, however when it involves messing with a biological system such as our bodies I believe we are playing with fire. Adapting Schiller was playing with fire, and getting an opera based on his work on stage could be risky, in Italy above all. By toying with this crisis the politicians are playing with fire. If that is the First Minister's game he may be playing with fire. We're playing with fire when we make huge changes to a complex system that we don't understand, as we seem to be doing with the various substances we're pumping into our atmosphere. Synonyms run a risk, live dangerously, play with fire, sail close to the wind, risk it Phrasal Verbs play along Pretend to cooperate. she had to play along and be polite Example sentencesExamples At first she started to play along with him to calm him down, suggesting things. I figured I could play along with the ‘just friends’ bit, then ply him with alcohol and take advantage of him. When Sascha first told me he was a neuropsychologist, I thought he was joking, so I decided to play along with it and told him I was a nurse. I'm dying to scream the truth out to everyone from the roof tops, yet I know I'll play along with this ridiculous charade. Nicky, of course, was perfectly happy to play along with this. Apparently the Germans played along in order to win time to reinforce their forces in Italy. He now claims that he knew all the time that it was a sting and was just playing along, giving the reporters what they wanted in order to extract more information about their motives and identities. I didn't want to play along with her stupid mind games anymore. He took that opportunity to give Daphne a little wink to let her know that he would play along with whatever she decided to do. I have no desire to play along with Kelly's little machinations. Synonyms cooperate, collaborate, play along, play the game, go along with the plan, show willing, be willing, help, lend a hand, assist, be of assistance, contribute, reciprocate, respond play someone along Deceive or mislead someone over a period of time. Example sentencesExamples I had no idea what I was doing, just that I had to play him along and find us a way out of this. Rather than telling the ‘buyer’ to take a running jump, Jeff decided to play him along while at the same time complaining about his actions to eBay. Jackie Lye as Gill the good time girl playing Mark along is certainly lust on legs and captures this temptress perfectly. play something back Play sounds that one has recently recorded, especially to monitor recording quality. Example sentencesExamples The next time you're out with a group of friends, obtain permission to record casual conversation for 30 minutes and then play it back. Mike played the tape back and the song sounded awesome. Fortunately I recorded the breakfast show trail so I could play it back when we'd finished, and in all honesty I think it's the best one I've done so far. The ability to record musical performances and play them back at any time was, during the 20th century, the principal force spreading music and its appreciation to an ever-wider public. Digital photos can be played back in a slide show, complete with a soundtrack compiled from the music library. The comments were only noticed after the official Press briefing, when the recordings were played back. After recording one track, you can play it back while recording another. We tried to record the call so we could play it back on air, but could only capture my half of the conversation, which was no good. I handed him a list of questions that I had prepared and promised him that we could record the interview, play it back, and if he did not like it we would scrap it. They don't do it live, he records it then plays it back a few minutes later. play something down Represent something as being less important than it in fact is. he tried to play down the seriousness of his illness Example sentencesExamples We are in a substantial and serious crisis and both the government and the media are playing it down. Not surprisingly, this whole episode was played down by the press. However, the Scottish Executive were playing the possibility down. If Torrance made any significant contribution to his son's tactical thinking he is playing it down. Within the corridors of parliament last week, many opposition MSPs had begun playing the affair down. As much as she plays it down, not wishing to ‘romanticise’ it, her home life must have been a rich source of inspiration. Sharon plays it down, insisting it'll be a small affair. We are definitely playing this win down - it's easy for the supporters to get carried away but we have to take certain things into account. But Det Supt Higgins yesterday played his role down, saying he could never have done it without the extraordinary dedication of a team of officers. But the risk is played down by the government body meant to ensure that our food is safe, the Food Standards Agency. Synonyms make light of, make little of, make nothing of, set little store by, set no store by, gloss over, de-emphasize, underemphasize, downplay, understate, underplay, minimize, shrug off play someone off Bring people into conflict or competition for one's own advantage. detectives employ more than one informant so as to play one off against the other Example sentencesExamples Meanwhile we have a Government that is effectively responding by playing them off each other promising much and delivering very little. Confronted by this evidence of disunity among his enemies, Charles took the understandable but risky course of playing them off against each other. Give them the information they need and then play them off against each other until the sum you're being offered is a fair approximation of what you want to receive. Don't let the property developers play us off against each other. The British government is effectively abdicating IT strategy to the major players and confining itself to attempts to play them off against one another in order to obtain lower prices. He left the running of the country to his deputies, playing them off against each other, intervening only to reassert his authority. That way, the buyers could not play us off against each other. It's divide-and-rule, playing us off in a grim bidding war of who will work for the least money. To prevent workers from taking a unified stance against management, the latter tries to split its workers into groups and to play them off against one another. ‘Eamon believed that Today FM were trying to play him off against Bird as a way of keeping down the size of his salary,’ said one station insider. play off (of two teams or competitors) play an extra game or match to decide a draw or tie. Example sentencesExamples These two teams played off a couple of weeks ago at the same ground, and Port won handsomely as they dominated North Ballarat all over the ground. The four provincial champions will qualify for the quarter-finals with the defeated teams playing off for the other four places. The third and fourth place teams also played off, with the loser eliminated and the winner playing the loser of the one versus two game. In the event of both teams finishing level they play off with each pairing playing a single game. The top four teams will play off for the premier division title with the bottom four playing for the First Division title. The top team in each of the two groups go directly to the semi-finals, with the next two teams in each pool playing off for the remaining spots in the last four. The winners of their respective matches will contest the final, while the losers will play off for the bronze medal. Division B teams would be playing off for the right to go up to Division A at the expense of the worst performed team in Division A. The section winners will play off to decide the overall champions in a championship tournament on April 1. Sadly, aggregate scores counted for nothing in those days, and having won and lost a leg apiece, the teams played off. play on Exploit (a weak or vulnerable point in someone) he played on his opponent's nerves Example sentencesExamples It is true that much of the humour plays on cultural differences but this is done without ever becoming too crude or crass. We laugh because it plays on our deep anxieties about our own sexuality. The council has played on the emotions of these people and their relatives. It plays on the fact that there is nothing else up there and you'll probably be desperate for something to eat, or at least to drink. The artist creates this discomfort and plays on it, usurping expectations. These stories always appear to have been made up by newspapers seeking sales by playing on people's fears. Any company that asks for large amounts of money or plays on people's greed or fears should be immediately suspect. All this from a fear that is not well articulated and plays on the emotive issue of terrorism. Any politician who plays on race is a danger to the country and should never be allowed to run in any public office. The idealism of childhood is further perpetuated by the advertising industry that plays on our nostalgia for a time when everything came easily. Synonyms exploit, take advantage of, use, make use of, turn to account, turn to one's account, profit by, capitalize on, impose on, trade on, milk, abuse, misuse play someone out Drain someone of strength or life. Example sentencesExamples There was a sense that I was played out, I was finished. There was nowhere else I could go. I was played out. By this time I was played out and so were Beck and Nora. play something out Act the whole of a drama; enact a scene or role. Example sentencesExamples Such scenes are played out across the whole of Britain with a fair degree of regularity, though they remain relatively rare north of the border. Supplemented with archive material that showed how the drama was played out on local TV, it makes compelling viewing. The little church has seen hundred of years pass by and lives long forgotten have played their dramas out around it. Not surprisingly, due to his fame, the whole scenario was played out in the papers. Is landscape just merely the indifferent background scene on which our lives are played out or it is integral to who we are and how we feel? It does, however, offer a far closer insight into the reality of justice, as it is played out every day in our courts, than anything most ordinary people will ever see. It goes without saying that one sees the full range of human emotion - great life and death dramas are played out before one's eyes. The saga was played out all this week in the Spanish newspapers. It is just that, here, all life's dramas are played out in front of the most spectacular backdrop you could hope to find. Similar scenes have been played out thousands and thousands of times around the country. On 21st November, 1953, the final scene in the saga was played out. Synonyms portray, represent, depict, characterize, describe, present play something up Emphasize the extent or importance of something. the mystery surrounding his death was played up by the media Example sentencesExamples His warnings were unheeded, and, as he predicted, Republicans played the issue up in the final weeks of the campaign. Fearful of being accused of complacency, they fail to allay public fears and often play up hypothetical risks. Fianna Fáil were wary of playing up their chances. The government is playing up the great energy savings these regulations will provide and selling the new laws as a ‘win’ to the environment. We certainly play that fact up whenever we've got an award-winning book. While even the most diehard Celtic fan will find it difficult to muster up excitement, Sky are still trying to play the match up as if it's Judgement Day itself. Predictions of 450,000 lost jobs are played up in the media, while the jobs that will be created to combat global warming are ignored. She took it much worse than I did, though I played it up for the girls a bit when they came around to coddle me. Now governments can get more support by playing the threat up and issuing constant warnings. They played up fears of juvenile crime and welfare dependency, but failed to challenge the belief that mothers worked only out of financial necessity. Synonyms emphasize, lay emphasis on, put emphasis on, accentuate, bring attention to, call attention to, draw attention to, focus attention on, point up, underline, underscore, highlight, spotlight, foreground, feature, give prominence to, bring to the fore, heighten, stress, accent play up to Exploit, trade on, or make the most of. Example sentencesExamples He's also a mass of contradictions, desperately playing up to more successful ex-schoolmates and then verbally and physically assaulting them. When every major presidential candidate contributes to a candidate or plays up to a labor activist in Iowa, New Hampshire or South Carolina, that makes it possible for the recipients of this attention to choose relatively freely. Synonyms ingratiate oneself with, seek the favour of, try to get on the good side of, curry favour with, court, fawn on, fawn over, make up to, keep someone sweet, toady to, crawl to, grovel to, pander to, be obsequious towards, truckle to, flatter play around (or about) 1Behave in a casual, foolish, or irresponsible way. you shouldn't play around with a child's future Example sentencesExamples I'm fairly happy with the layout, but I think I might play around with the colour scheme over the next few days. It is no longer possible to play around with identity politics. Back in my days working at the Shake bar me and some of the other workers in the quiet time used to play around with the bottles. A lot of Christmas discs play around with the music we've grown to love over the years, but not enough try and make something unique enough to really stand out. I had quite a full weekend, although most of Saturday was spent playing about with the new DVD player. We can't play around with the future of our children. These investments of course may yet come good, but I suppose I just don't have that sort of disposable income to play around with. Everyone knows that when scientists play around with genes, they screw up. Instead of 64 mb of RAM, I've suddenly got 512 mbs to play around with. It's that time of year again when parents are advised to keep a watch on their children to make sure they do not play around with fireworks. 1.1informal (of a married person) have a love affair. Example sentencesExamples I'm amazed the number of my married women friends who've played away since their fifties. If you can live with that (and without your current BF when he finds out), play away! With fame and wealth come more opportunities to play away, but it is selfish to believe that only the players feel lonely. I was married with a little boy by now but my wife fell in love with someone else and I was playing away. A one-night stand cost him an estimated stg £100m when his wife, Pamela, found out that he had been playing away from home. Lowly Wigan's problems mount - they are like the cheating husband who gets his kicks by playing away! Origin Old English pleg(i)an ‘to exercise’, plega ‘brisk movement’, related to Middle Dutch pleien ‘leap for joy, dance’. verb.1 phr. phr.v.
随便看	stand one's ground stand one's ground stand one's ground stand one's ground against stand on its head stand on me stand on me stand on one's dignity stand on one's dignity stand on one's own feet stand on one's own feet stand on one's own (two) feet stand on one's own two feet stand on one's own (two) feet stand on own feet stand on own two feet stand (or stay) the pace stand (or stay) the pace stand (or stick) out a mile stand (or stick) out a mile stand (or stick) out like a sore thumb stand (or stick) out like a sore thumb stand (or turn) something on its head stand (or turn) something on its head stand out