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Old 01-Nov-2007, 11:23
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Smile playing the stock market

We buy lottery tickets, enter contests or spend hours building a business or playing the stock market. We're sure when we have plenty of money, we will be happy. But will we?

I doubt whether I can rewrite the underlined part as the following without making a change in meaning.
Moreover, I'm especially troubled by the phrase "playing the stock market." Is it right to utter "playing the stock" or "investing in the stock market?" Your advice? Thanks.

We buy lottery, take part in contests or spend hours setting up a business or investing the stock martet...
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Old 01-Nov-2007, 11:32
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Default Re: playing the stock market

We buy lottery is not correct, we would usually say We play the lottery. Also, in this case we need to say investing in, as follows:
We play the lottery, take part in contests or spend hours setting up a business or investing in the stock market.

The lottery is a game and a competition: we can take part in it, and play it.
The stock market obviously isn't a game: we invest money in the stock market, or buy stocks. Playing the stock market is an idiom meaning investing in the stock market.
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Old 01-Nov-2007, 11:42
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Default Re: playing the stock market

Thanks, Niall, for the most desirable and transparent reply.
Got it.
By the way, what time is it in your place? Here it's 7:42 PM.
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Old 01-Nov-2007, 11:46
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Default Re: playing the stock market

In the UK it is 11:45 (AM).
:)
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Old 01-Nov-2007, 11:51
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Default Re: playing the stock market

Thanks, Niall.
Then is it right to say "The time difference/leg/gap between us is about eight hours?"
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Old 01-Nov-2007, 11:59
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Default Re: playing the stock market

The time difference/gap between us is about eight hours
Leg cannot be used in this sense.
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Old 01-Nov-2007, 12:27
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Default Re: playing the stock market

Thanks, Niall.
Got it.
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Old 01-Nov-2007, 20:22
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Default Re: playing the stock market

Quote:
Originally Posted by Niall View Post
. Playing the stock market is an idiom meaning investing in the stock market.
I would argue that many who play the stock market may be investing, but they are also treating it as a gambling game at which they need to second-guess the market and its fluctuations, and risk losing in order to make bigger gains.
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Old 01-Nov-2007, 21:46
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Default Re: playing the stock market

You could argue that. But I would argue the opposite purely out of personal experience of its use in the financial world (rather than for any grammatical reason).
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Old 01-Nov-2007, 23:23
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Default Re: playing the stock market

How to Play the Stock Market >> Winning the Stock Market Game … Stock Market Secret : ArriveNet Press Releases : Business
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