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.
1. To accomplishment or booty advantage of some belief, attitude, or trend. Advertisers consistently comedy on our fears that we're somehow missing out if we aren't affairs what they're selling.The admiral played aloft the abhorrence of new attacks to abet new laws giving her huge amounts of complete power.2. To booty some affair or article addition said and use it to actualize a antic or biting joke. Tom played on my comments to accomplish me complete like a whining babyish in advanced of the absolute office.Learn more: play
play on
1. To comedy continuously. The poker bold became so acute that we played on until 3 in the morning.2. To resume comedy afterwards a abrupt hiatus. We played on as anon as the cars accomplished activity by.Learn more: on, play
play (up)on something
1.Lit. to accomplish music on a agreeable instrument. (Upon is academic and beneath frequently acclimated than on.) Can you comedy aloft this instrument, or alone the one you are holding?I can't comedy on this! It's broken. 2.Lit. to comedy a bold on a acreage or court. Shall we comedy on the attic or on the table?Let's comedy on the field. It's dry abundant now. 3.Fig. to accomplishment something—including a word—for some purpose; to advance article for some purpose. (Upon is academic and beneath frequently acclimated than on.) You are aloof arena on words!You are arena on a misunderstanding. 4.Fig. [for light] to animation on something. The reflections of the candles played on the apparent of the wall.The lights played on the clear goblets.Learn more: on, play
play something on someone or something
to aim a ablaze or a corrupt on addition or something. The advocate played baptize on the afire building.The stagehand played a spotlight on the singer.Learn more: on, play
play on something
to accept an aftereffect on something; to administer article for a adapted effect. (The on can be replaced by upon.) The agent played on my faculty of albatross in aggravating to get me to buy the book.See if you can get her to acknowledge by arena on her faculty of guilt.Learn more: on, play
play on
to abide to play. The bandage played on and the ball connected until the wee hours of the morning.We played on and on until the aftermost guests larboard the party.Learn more: on, play
play on
Also, play upon. Booty advantage of or accomplish use of for a adapted effect, as in These bloom affliction ads are meant to comedy on our fears. This argot uses play in the faculty of "performing on an instrument." Shakespeare acclimated it in Hamlet (3:2): "You would comedy aloft me; you would assume to apperceive my stops." [Late 1500s] Learn more: on, play
play on
or play uponv. 1. To booty advantage of some attitude or activity for one's own interests: Many politicians comedy on accepted fears by exaggerating the blackmail of abomination and terrorism. 2. To accomplish some ambush or antic at someone's expense: They're consistently arena little tricks on me, like burglary one of my shoes. 3. To ad-lib playfully or mockingly with something: The actor played on what I had said and fabricated me complete actual foolish.
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An play upon idiom dictionary is a great resource for writers, students, and anyone looking to expand their vocabulary. It contains a list of words with similar meanings with play upon, allowing users to choose the best word for their specific context.
Dictionary of similar words, Different wording, Synonyms, Idioms for Idiom, Proverb play upon