a pun, a word or phrase that has two meanings When a man says he'll give you a ring, it may be a play on words.
play on my heart strings
cause me to feel emotional, make me feel sentimental The movie Hey Jude will play on your heart strings - make you cry.
play on/upon (something)
cause an effect on, influence They played on his feelings of loneliness to get him to come and buy them dinner every night.
play on words
a humorous use of a word to suggest a different meaning There are many cases of using a play on words in the newspaper headlines.
play one
take advantage of your opportunities If you play your cards right you will probably get a promotion soon.
play on
1.perform on a musical instrument演奏(乐器) He was playing an old tune on his flute.他正用笛子吹奏一首老曲子。 2.cause an effect on;influence影响 The TV film played on his feelings.这部电视剧震撼了他的感情。 The cries of the baby at night played on my nerves.夜间婴儿的哭声闹得我烦躁不安。 3.utilize利用 He played on her good nature to borrow some money from her.他利用她的善良向她借了些钱。 The speaker knew how to play on the audience's feelings.这位演说者懂得怎样利用听众的情绪。
play one's trump card
Idiom(s): play one's trump card
Theme: STRATEGY
to use a special trick; to use one's most powerful or effective strategy or device. (Informal.) • I won't play my trump card until I have tried everything else. • I thought that the whole situation was hopeless until Mary played her trump card and solved the whole problem.
play one's cards right
Idiom(s): play one's cards right AND play one's cards well
Theme: SKILL
to work or negotiate correctly and skillfully. (Informal.) • If you play your cards right, you can get whatever you want. • She didn't play her cards well, and she ended up with something less than what she wanted.
play one's cards close to the chest
Idiom(s): play one's cards close to the chest AND play one's cards close to one's vest
Theme: SECRECY
[for someone] to work or negotiate in a careful and private manner. • It's hard to figure out what John is up to because he plays his cards close to his chest. • Don't let them know what you're up to. Play your cards close to your vest.
play one's cards well
Idiom(s): play one's cards right AND play one's cards well
Theme: SKILL
to work or negotiate correctly and skillfully. (Informal.) • If you play your cards right, you can get whatever you want. • She didn't play her cards well, and she ended up with something less than what she wanted.
play one's cards close to one's vest
Idiom(s): play one's cards close to the chest AND play one's cards close to one's vest
Theme: SECRECY
[for someone] to work or negotiate in a careful and private manner. • It's hard to figure out what John is up to because he plays his cards close to his chest. • Don't let them know what you're up to. Play your cards close to your vest.
play on|play|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|false|play
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|play|play one
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|card|cards|play|play one's
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.
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 on 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 on, allowing users to choose the best word for their specific context.
類似の言葉の辞書、別の表現、同義語、イディオム イディオム play on