Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
Шрифт:
[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.
[play the game]{v. phr.}, {informal} To obey the rules; do right; act fairly. •/"That’s not playing the game," we told him when he wanted to desert his wife./ •/"Oh, let’s play the game," he said, when his partner suggested a way to keep from paying some of their debts./ •/Your parents want you to play the game in life./
[play the market]{v. phr.} To try to make money on the stock market by buying and selling stocks, •/John lost all his savings playing the market./ •/Sometimes Mr. Smith makes a lot of money when he plays the market, and sometimes he loses./
[play to the gallery]{v. phr.} To try to get the approval of the audience. •/Whenever John recites in class he seems to be playing to the gallery./ •/The lawyer for the defense was more interested in playing to the gallery than in winning the case./ Compare: SHOW OFF.
[play tricks on]{v. phr.} To make another the victim of some trick or joke. •/Al got angry when his classmates played a trick on him by hiding his clothes while he was swimming./
[play up]{v.} To call attention to; talk more about; emphasize. •/The coach played up the possibilities, and kept our minds off our weaknesses./ •/The director played up the woman’s glamor to conceal her lack of acting ability./
[play upon] See: PLAY ON.
[play up to]{v. phr.}. {slang} 1. To try to gain the favor of, especially for selfish reasons; act to win the approval of; try to please. •/He played up to the boss./ 2. To use (something) to gain an end; to attend to (a weakness). •/He played up to the old lady’s vanity to get her support./
[play with fire]{v. phr.} To put oneself in danger; to take risks. •/Leaving your door unlocked in New York City is playing with fire./ •/The doctor told Mr. Smith that he must watch his diet if he doesn’t want to play with fire./ Compare: SKATE ON THIN ICE.
[plough] or [plow through]{v. phr.} Pass through laboriously. •/Saw had to plough through hundreds of pages of American history to get ready for his test./
[plow] See: PUT ONE’S HAND TO THE PLOW.
[plow into]{v.} 1. To attack vigorously. •/He plowed into his work and finished it in a few hours./ 2. To crash into with force. •/A truck plowed into my car and smashed the fender./