All English words - page 4267

Meanings of Play-fast-and-loose:

idiom

To treat something or someone without enough care

Usage examples:

Like many movie-makers, he plays fast and loose with the facts to tell his own version of the story.

Meanings of Play-fast-and-loose-with:

idiom

To treat something or someone without enough care

Usage examples:

Like many movie-makers, he plays fast and loose with the facts to tell his own version of the story.

Meanings of Play-for:

idiom

To delay until you are ready

Usage examples:

We can't sign the agreement yet - we'll have to play for time.

Meanings of Play-for-time:

idiom

To delay until you are ready

Usage examples:

We can't sign the agreement yet - we'll have to play for time.

Meanings of Play-games:

idiom

To behave in a way that is not serious or honest enough

Usage examples:

I'm not interested in playing games with people at city hall on the tax issue., stop playing games …

Meanings of Play-hardball:

idiom

Infml to behave in an unpleasant, threatening way so that you get what you want

Usage examples:

He’s a nice guy, but he can play hardball when he has to.

Meanings of Play-havoc:

idiom

To make a situation much more difficult or confusing

Usage examples:

The snowstorm is really playing havoc with rush-hour traffic., the acid rain plays havoc with marin…

Meanings of Play-havoc-with:

idiom

To make a situation much more difficult or confusing

Usage examples:

The snowstorm is really playing havoc with rush-hour traffic., the acid rain plays havoc with marin…

Meanings of Play-off:

phrasal verb

(of two teams or competitors) play an extra game or match to decide a draw or tie.

Usage examples:

The runners-up will play off against each other

noun

One of a series of games played after the regular season to decide which teams will advance to play for the championship (= compete to be recognized as the best team)

Usage examples:

The basketball playoffs, a playoff game

Meanings of Play-off-against:

phrasal verb

To encourage one person or group to compete or argue with another, hoping to gain some advantage from this situation

Usage examples:

Management policy seemed to be to play one department off against another.

Meanings of Play-on-words:

idiom

An amusing use of a word or phrase that has more than one meaning

Meanings of Play-the-field:

idiom

To hold an interest in a number of people or things, especially to become romantically or sexually involved with a number of partners

Usage examples:

Becky's not ready to settle down with one man - she enjoys playing the field too much.

Meanings of Play-the-fool:

phrase

To behave in a silly way, often intentionally to make people laugh

Usage examples:

Stop acting the fool, i'm trying to talk to you., he loves playing the fool., i'm happy to play the…

Meanings of Play-the-market:

noun

An open area, building, or event at which people gather to buy and sell goods or food

Usage examples:

Are you sure there’s a market for something like this?, the teenage/adult market, domestic/foreign …

Meanings of Play-to-the-gallery:

idiom

To behave in a way intended to make people admire or support you

Usage examples:

Politicians these days are more interested in playing to the gallery than exercising real influence…

Meanings of Play-truant:

phrase

To be regularly absent from school without permission

Usage examples:

Play truant from school most parents are horrified when they discover their children have been play…

Meanings of Play-up:

phrasal verb

Emphasize or exaggerate the extent or importance of something.

Usage examples:

The mystery surrounding his death was played up by the media

Meanings of Play-up-to:

phrasal verb

Exploit, trade on, or make the most of something.

Usage examples:

The actors clearly have fun playing up to their stereotypes

Meanings of Play-with:

phrasal verb

Fiddle or tamper with something.

Usage examples:

Has somebody been playing with these taps?

Meanings of Play-with-oneself:

phrasal verb

To use something in a way that is not serious or careful

Usage examples:

You're not really making a budget, you're just playing with numbers., stop playing with your food.

Meanings of Playa:

noun

An area of flat, dried-up land, especially a desert basin from which water evaporates quickly.

Usage examples:

This landscape of jagged mountains, desert playas, and massive canyons has yielded woolly-mammoth s…

Meanings of Playability:

noun

In a video game, the quality of being easy and enjoyable to play, or the degree to which a video game is like this

Usage examples:

Although the 3d design looks pretty, it doesn't add much to the playability of the game., what i-ni…

Meanings of Playable:

adjective

Able to be used or played.

Usage examples:

The game will be playable over the internet

Meanings of Playact:

verb

Engage in pretence in order to trick someone or gain an advantage.

Usage examples:

I am a professional and i would never play-act to get someone sent off

Meanings of Playacted:

verb

Engage in pretence in order to trick someone or gain an advantage.

Usage examples:

I am a professional and i would never play-act to get someone sent off