Словарь американских идиом (8000 единиц)
Шрифт:
[played out] <adj. phr.> Tired out; worn out; finished; exhausted. * /It had been a hard day, and by night he was played out./ * /For a while, at least, it seemed the interest in great speed was played out./ Compare: ALL IN.
[play fair] <v. phr.> To do what is right to others; act in a fair and truthful way. * /The boys like the principal because he always plays fair./ * /Mary would not date any other boys while Jim, her favorite boyfriend, was away; she said that would not be playing fair./
[play fast and loose] <v. phr.> To do as you please without caring what will happen to other people; act so carelessly or unfairly that people cannot depend on you; be very unreliable. * /He played fast and loose with the girl's affections./ * /He played fast and loose with the company's good name./
[play footsie] <v. phr.>, <slang>, <informal> 1. Touch the feet of a member of the opposite sex under the table as an act of flirtation. * /Have you at least played footsie with her?/ 2. To engage in any sort of flirtation or collaboration, especially in a political situation. * /The mayor was suspected of playing footsie with the Syndicate./
[play for keeps] <v. phr.> To take an action of finality and irreversibility. * /"Are you serious about me?" she asked. "Yes," he replied. "I want to marry you. I play for keeps."/
[play hard to get] <v. phr.> To act as if one weren't interested; be fickle; be coy. * /"Professor Brown is playing very hard to get," our dean said, "but I know he will accept our offer and come to teach here."/
[play havoc with] or [raise havoc with] <v. phr.> To cause destruction; ruin; injure badly. * /The storm played havoc with the apple orchard./ * /When Ralph was arrested for stealing the car, it played havoc with his plans for going to college./ * /When Mr. White poisoned the cat, it played havoc with his reputation in the neighborhood./
[play hooky] <v. phr.>, <informal> To stay out of school to play. * /Carl is failing in school because he has played hooky so many times during the year./
[play into one's hands] <v. phr.> To be or do something that another person can use against you; help an opponent against yourself. * /In the basketball game, Jerry's foul played into the opponents' hands./ * /Mary and Bobby both wanted the last piece of cake, but Bobby played into Mary's hands by trying to grab it./
[play off] <v.> 1. To match opposing persons, forces, or interests so that they balance each other. * /The girl played off her admirers against each other./ * /Britain tried to play off European nations against each other so that she would have a balance of power./ 2. To finish the playing of (an interrupted contest.) * /The visitors came back the next Saturday to play off the game stopped by rain./ 3. To settle (a tie score) between contestants by more play. /When each player had won two matches, the championship was decided by playing off the tie./
[play on] or [play upon] <v.> 1. To cause an effect on; influence. * /A heavy diet of television drama played on his feelings./ 2. To work upon for a planned effect; excite to a desired action by cunning plans; manage. * /The makeup salesman played on the woman's wish to look beautiful./ * /In some places, leaders play upon people's superstitious fears./ * /He played on the man's ambition and love of honor./
[play one false] <v. phr.>, <literary> To act disloyally toward (a person); betray; cheat; deceive. * /Good faith was not in him: he played anyone false who trusted him./ * /His hopes had played him false./
[play one for] <v.>, <informal> To treat (someone) as; act toward (someone) as; handle (someone) as; handle as. * /He played the man for a sucker./
[play one's cards right] or [play one's cards well] <v. phr.>, <informal> To use abilities and opportunities so as to be successful; act cleverly; make the best use of your place or skills. * /That millionaire started with very little but showed a skill in playing his cards right./ * /People liked Harold, and he played his cards well and soon he began to get ahead rapidly./
[play ostrich] <v. phr.> To refuse to face painful facts or unpleasant truths. * /She plays ostrich when it comes to her husband's drinking problem./
[play politics] <v. phr.> To make secret agreements for your own gain; handle different groups for your own advantage. * /In order to get elected, he had to play politics with both the unions and the bosses./ * /Mary always gets what she wants by playing office politics./
[play possum] <v. phr.>, <informal> 1. To pretend to be asleep. * /Johnny seemed to be fully asleep, but his mother knew that he was playing possum./ 2. To stay quiet for self-protection; try to escape attention by inactivity. * /The rabbit played possum under the bushes, hoping the hunter would not see him./ * /Bob played possum when the teacher looked around./
[play safe] or [play it safe] <v. phr.>, <informal> To be very careful; accept small gains or none to avoid loss; avoid danger for the sake of safety. * /He got tired as the game went on, and began to play safe./ * /Tom didn't know what the other driver would do, so he played it safe and stopped his own car./
[play second fiddle] <v. phr.>, <informal> To act a smaller part; follow another's lead; be less noticed. * /His wife had the stronger mind and he played second fiddle to her./ * /During the tournament, lessons played second fiddle to basketball./
[play the devil with] or [play hob with] <v. phr.>, <informal> To cause confusion in; upset. * /Uncle Bob's unexpected visit played the devil with our own plans to travel./ * /Mother's illness played hob with our party./
[play the field] <v. phr.>, <informal> To date many different people; not always have dates with the same person. * /Al had a steady girlfriend, but John was playing the field./ * /Jim was crazy about Mary, but she was still playing the field./ Contrast: GO STEADY.