[General] make a play for

[vil]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expressions in bold in the following sentence?

He made a play for his buddy’s girl.

make a play for = canoodle, flirt

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V.

 

[emsr2d2]

Dear teachers,

Would you be kind enough to tell me whether I am right with my interpretation of the expressions in bold in the following sentence?

He made a play for his buddy’s girl.

make a play for = canoodle, flirt

Thanks for your efforts.

Regards,

V.

I would say that it means he made advances towards her (in a flirty, romantic way).

Canoodling and flirting are different things.

If you flirt, you behave in a way that makes someone else know that you are interested in them.

Canoodling is actually hugging, kissing, "making out" (in AmE).

 

[Ouisch]

Agreeing with emsr2s2 - "canoodling" is a step further than "flirting." Canoodling means actual romantic physical interaction between two people. Flirting is something more subtle, such as knowing glances and suggestive remarks.

"Make a play for" falls in the "flirting" category. It means that a person is trying to win the affection of or seduce another person, but no serious physical romance has taken place.