Phrasal Verb 'Play'
We have 26 phrasal verb definitions related to 'Play'.
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Play about
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Meaning: Be silly
Example: Please stop PLAYING ABOUT.
Notes:
- Inseparable
- British English
- Inseparable
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Play about
-
Meaning: Be sexually promiscuous or unfaithful
Example: She PLAYED ABOUT before she got married.
Notes:
- Inseparable
- British English
- Inseparable
-
Play along
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Meaning: Pretend to agree or accept something in order to keep someone happy or to get more information
Example: I disagreed with the idea but I had to PLAY ALONG because everyone else liked it.
Notes:
- Intransitive
- International English
- Intransitive
-
Play around
-
Meaning: Be silly
Example: The children were PLAYING AROUND and being annoying.
Notes:
- Intransitive
- International English
- Intransitive
-
Play around
-
Meaning: Be sexually promiscuous or unfaithful
Example: I PLAYED AROUND a lot at college.
Notes:
- Intransitive
- International English
- Intransitive
-
Play at
-
Meaning: Pretend to be something
Example: He just PLAYS AT being a lawyer- he never wins a case.
Notes:
- Inseparable
- International English
- Inseparable
-
Play away
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Meaning: Be sexually unfaithful when away from home
Example: He travels abroad a lot and his wife thinks he PLAYS AWAY.
Notes:
- Intransitive
- International English
- Intransitive
-
Play back
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Meaning: Listen to or watch something you've recorded
Example: We PLAYED the recording BACK to see if it was OK.
Notes:
- Separable [optional]
- International English
- Separable [optional]
-
Play down
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Meaning: Try to make something seem less important
Example: The Government has tried to PLAY DOWN the importance of the minister's resignation.
Notes:
- Separable [optional]
- International English
- Separable [optional]
-
Play off
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Meaning: Play a game to decide who the winner is
Example: As both teams had the same points, they PLAYED OFF to decide the winner.
Notes:
- Intransitive
- International English
- Intransitive
-
Play off
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Meaning: Make people compete against each other so that you benefit
Example: He PLAYED them OFF against each other to get the best deal.
Notes:
- Separable [obligatory]
- International English
- Separable [obligatory]
-
Play on
-
Meaning: Continue playing a sport though there might be a reason to stop
Example: It looked like a foul, but the referee told them to PLAY ON.
Notes:
- Intransitive
- British English
- Intransitive
-
Play on
-
Meaning: Continue playing music
Example: The band PLAYED ON for another hour.
Notes:
- Intransitive
- International English
- Intransitive
-
Play on
-
Meaning: Exploit a weakness
Example: They are just PLAYING ON our fears to get us to do what they want.
Notes:
- Inseparable
- International English
- Inseparable
-
Play on
-
Meaning: Pun
Example: The advert PLAYS ON the slogan
Notes:
- Inseparable
- International English
- Inseparable
-
Play out
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Meaning: Progress, often till it finishes
Example: Let's see how things PLAY OUT.
Notes:
- Intransitive
- International English
- Intransitive
-
Play out
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Meaning: Pretend that something is real and reduce its effect
Example: Computer games allow people to PLAY OUT their violent urges.
Notes:
- Separable [optional]
- International English
- Separable [optional]
-
Play out
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Meaning: Play something to the end
Example: Rain stopped them PLAYING the game OUT.
Notes:
- Separable [optional]
- International English
- Separable [optional]
-
Play out
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Meaning: Unwind (e.g., fishing line)
Example: When he hooked the swordfish, his line rapidly PLAYED OUT.
Notes:
- Intransitive
- International English
- Intransitive
-
Play up
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Meaning: Behave badly
Example: The children PLAYED UP all evening and drove the babysitter mad.
Notes:
- Intransitive
- International English
- Intransitive
-
Play up to
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Meaning: Flatter someone
Example: I'm PLAYING UP TO my boss at the moment because I want the promotion.
Notes:
- Intransitive
- American English
- Intransitive
-
Play up to
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Meaning: Behave in a way expected
Example: He's got a reputation for being trouble and PLAYS UP TO it.
Notes:
- Inseparable
- International English
- Inseparable
-
Play upon
-
Meaning: Exploit a weakness
Example: They are PLAYING UPON people's concerns to get their way.
Notes:
- Inseparable
- International English
- Inseparable
-
Play with
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Meaning: Touch and move something to occupy your hands
Example: He can't stop PLAYING WITH his beard.
Notes:
- Inseparable
- International English
- Inseparable
-
Play with
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Meaning: Not eat much of a meal
Example: I wasn't hungry, so I just PLAYED WITH the food.
Notes:
- Inseparable
- International English
- Inseparable
-
Play with
-
Meaning: Consider something, but not seriously
Example: We PLAYED WITH the idea, but decided against it.
Notes:
- Inseparable
- International English
- Inseparable
