play for
Idioms-
Take part for a particular reason, as in We're not playing for money, just for fun . A special usage of this idiom is play for laughs , that is, with the aim of arousing laughter.
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play someone for . Manage someone for one's own ends, make a fool of, dupe or cheat. For example, I resent your playing me for a fool , or He suddenly found out she'd been playing him for a sucker . This usage employs play in the sense of “exhaust a hooked fish,” that is, manage it on the line so that it exhausts itself. [Mid-1600s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
So, amid one of the most captivating title fights in the history of Scotland's top flight, what is the state of play for each of the four clubs involved?
From BBC
If Stafford had not announced he was returning the night he won the NFL most valuable player award this would be the Rams’ paramount offseason issue — with the two first-round picks probably coming into play for general manager Les Snead.
From Los Angeles Times
There is a school of thought among some fans that a good season is one where your team still has plenty to play for come April.
From BBC
The stock has languished since Netflix announced its deal to acquire Warner in early December, and it was trending down even before that simply on rumors that it might make a play for the storied Hollywood studio.
Both teams lost in the Open Division semifinals last winter and were the preseason favorites to play for the title this season.
From Los Angeles Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
