english
1
general::
play on/upon sth
If you play on/upon someone's feelings, you encourage and make unfair use of these feelings in order to get an advantage for yourself
• I hate marketing strategies that play on people's fears and prejudices., play (sb) up
UK informal
to cause someone pain
• His knee's been playing him up again.
• My stomach was playing up so I had to go home., play sth back
[ M ]
If you play back something that has been recorded, you put it through a machine so that you can listen to it or watch it
• The message I recorded for the answering machine sounded terrible when I played it back., play itself out
If a situation plays itself out, it develops until nothing more can happen and it is no longer very important
• We were forced to stand back and let the crisis play itself out., play around/about with sth
to try out different methods or different things, before deciding which one to choose
• We've been playing around with ideas for a new TV show.
• Why don't you play about with the different fonts on the computer and see which one you want to use?, play sb/sth off against sb/sth
[ M ]
to encourage one person or group to compete or argue with another, hoping to get some advantage from this situation
• Management policy seemed to be to play one department off against another., play along
to do what someone asks you to do, for a limited period of time
• I know you don't like Jack's idea, but just play along with him for a while., play up to sb
to try to make someone like you and treat you well by behaving in a way you think will please them
• Julia knows how to play up to the supervisors - she can always get time off work when she wants it., play at sth
2. to do something for enjoyment or interest, or without much care and effort, not in a serious way or as a job
• She's only playing at being an actress - she's going off to law school next year., play with sth
TOUCH
2. disapproving to keep touching and moving something around with no purpose or interest
• Stop playing with your hair!
• She was just playing with her food - she didn't eat a mouthful., play sth out
[ M ]
to pretend that an imaginary situation or event is really happening
• In the psychotherapy group, patients were free to play out their fantasies., play with sth
IDEA
1. to consider an idea or plan
• Patricia and I were playing ( around ) with the idea/possibility of moving to Glasgow., play up
MACHINE
2. If a machine plays up, it does not work as it should
• The starter motor was playing up again., play off
to play a game, in a team sport, to decide which side will win
• United and Rangers are playing off for the championship., play up
CHILD
1. UK When children play up, they behave badly
• The boys have been playing up at school again., play sth up
[ M ]
to emphasize a particular quality or part of something, or make it seem more important than it really is, usually for your own advantage
• The official report plays up the likely benefits of the scheme, but glosses over the costs., play sth down
[ M ]
to make something seem less important or less bad than it really is
• Military spokespeople tried to play down the seriousness of the disaster., play around
SEX
2. ( UK also play about ) informal disapproving If someone who is married or has a serious relationship plays around, they have sex with another person or people
• If she finds out he's been playing around with his secretary, there'll be trouble., play around
BE SILLY
1. ( UK also play about ) informal to behave in a silly way
• Stop playing around and get on with your homework!
• I wish you wouldn't play about with that - you'll break it., play out
mainly US
When a situation plays out, it happens and develops
• The debate will play out in the meetings and in the media over the next week or two., play at sth
1. to pretend to be a particular person or to do a particular thing, usually as a game
• The children were playing at Batman and Robin.
Cambridge-Phrasal Verbs
2
general::
play
verbs
write a play
• So far, he has written three plays.
go to (see) a play
• While we were in New York, we went to a play.
see a play
• I’ve never seen the play.
watch a play
• Some of the audience were talking instead of watching the play.
perform a play
• The play was performed by Brighton Youth Theatre.
act/perform/appear in a play
• She acted in many plays on the London stage.
be in a play
(= be performing in a play )
• Michael is currently in a play on Broadway.
do a play
spoken (= arrange it or perform in it )
• Bob asked if I would do this play, and I agreed.
put on a play
(= arrange for it to be performed )
• The school puts on a Nativity play every Christmas.
direct a play
(= tell the actors what to do )
• The play is directed by Paulette Randall.
produce/stage a play
(= arrange its performance )
rehearse a play
(= practise it )
• We spent weeks rehearsing the play.
a play opens
(= its performances start )
• The play opens in San Francisco on Wednesday for a three-week run.
a play runs
(= it continues to be performed )
• The play ran for five months.
a play closes
(= its performances stop )
• The play closes on Sunday, so don’t miss it!
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + play
a stage play
(= a play in a theatre )
• I occasionally write reviews of local stage plays.
a TV/radio play
(= a play written to be performed on TV/radio )
• This horror story would make a good radio play.
a school play
• I got a small part in the school play.
COMMON ERRORS
>>> Do not say ' give a play '. Say put on a play .
transnet.ir
3
general::
verb of children VERB + PLAY let sb The other children wouldn't let him play. PREP. at Let's play at pirates! | with a little girl playing with her toys game/sport ADV. brilliantly, excellently, superbly, well | badly VERB + PLAY learn to | teach sb to | be difficult to, be easy to | see sb, watch sb PREP. against United are difficult to play against. | at I've never played John at tennis. | for He plays for Aston Villa. | in She has played in every match this season. | with playing cards with her mother music ADV. brilliantly, excellently, superbly, well | badly | live The band will be playing live in the studio. VERB + PLAY learn to learning to play the violin | teach sb to | be easy to, be difficult to a piece that is relatively easy to play | hear sb Have you ever heard her play?, noun activity done for fun ADJ. outdoor | creative, imaginative, pretend PLAY + NOUN area | equipment | scheme The local council runs some good play schemes. PREP. at ~ Children spend hours at play. | in ~ I only said it in play (= not seriously). drama ADJ. one-act | radio, television | musical | miracle, morality, mystery, nativity, passion The children always perform a nativity play every Christmas. VERB + PLAY review The play is reviewed in most of today's papers. PREP. ~ about a play about teenage runawaysPERFORMANCE (for more verbs) in sport ADJ. excellent, good | fair | dangerous, dirty, foul, rough, violent He was sent off for foul play. VERB + PLAY stop Rain stopped play 40 minutes into the match. PREP. in ~ The ball is still in play. | out of ~ He kicked the ball out of play. PHRASES at close/start of play (in cricket) At close of play he had scored 38 not out.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
4
general::
verb
frolicked:
The children played with their toys.
verb
dallied:
He played with his food.
verb
acted:
She played the part of the mother.
noun
drama:
We saw a play at the theater.
noun
jest:
It was done in play.
Simple Definitions
5
general::
In addition to the idioms beginning with PLAY, Also see ALL WORK AND NO PLAY; CHILD'S PLAY; DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, PLAY; FAIR PLAY; FOUL PLAY; GAME THAT TWO CAN PLAY; GRANDSTAND PLAY; IN PLAY; MAKE A PLAY FOR; MUSICAL CHAIRS, PLAY; SQUEEZE PLAY; TRUMP CARD, PLAY ONE'S.
American Heritage Idioms