[play by ear]{v. phr.} 1. To play a musical instrument by remembering the tune, not by reading music. •/Mary does not know how to read music. She plays the piano by ear./ •/Joe doesn’t need any music sheets when he plays his guitar; he knows many songs well and can play them by ear./ 2. {informal} To decide what to do as you go along; to fit the situation. — Used with "it". •/John decided to play it by ear when he went for his interview./ •/It was her first job and she didn’t know what to expect, so we had to play it by ear./

[play cat and mouse with]{v. phr.} To tease or fool (someone) by pretending to let him go free and then catching him again. •/Joe’s uncle had fun playing cat and mouse with him./ •/The policeman decided to play cat and mouse when he saw the woman steal the dress in the store./

[play down]{v.} To give less emphasis to; make (something) seem less important; divert attention from; draw notice away from. •/The newspaper stories played down the actor’s unattractive past./ •/A salesman’s job is to emphasize the good points of his merchandise; he must play down any faults it has./

[played out]{adj. phr.} Tired out; worn out; finished; exhausted. •/It had been a hard day, and by night he was played out./ •/For a while, at least, it seemed the interest in great speed was played out./ Compare: ALL IN.

[play fair]{v. phr.} To do what is right to others; act in a fair and truthful way. •/The boys like the principal because he always plays fair./ •/Mary would not date any other boys while Jim, her favorite boyfriend, was away; she said that would not be playing fair./

[play fast and loose]{v. phr.} To do as you please without caring what will happen to other people; act so carelessly or unfairly that people cannot depend on you; be very unreliable. •/He played fast and loose with the girl’s affections./ •/He played fast and loose with the company’s good name./

[play footsie]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Touch the feet of a member of the opposite sex under the table as an act of flirtation. •/Have you at least played footsie with her?/ 2. To engage in any sort of flirtation or collaboration, especially in a political situation. •/The mayor was suspected of playing footsie with the Syndicate./

[play for keeps]{v. phr.} To take an action of finality and irreversibility. •/"Are you serious about me?" she asked. "Yes," he replied. "I want to marry you. I play for keeps."/

[play hard to get]{v. phr.} To act as if one weren’t interested; be fickle; be coy. •/"Professor Brown is playing very hard to get," our dean said, "but I know he will accept our offer and come to teach here."/

[play havoc with] or [raise havoc with] {v. phr.} To cause destruction; ruin; injure badly. •/The storm played havoc with the apple orchard./ •/When Ralph was arrested for stealing the car, it played havoc with his plans for going to college./ •/When Mr. White poisoned the cat, it played havoc with his reputation in the neighborhood./

[play hooky]{v. phr.}, {informal} To stay out of school to play. •/Carl is failing in school because he has played hooky so many times during the year./

[play into one’s hands]{v. phr.} To be or do something that another person can use against you; help an opponent against yourself. •/In the basketball game, Jerry’s foul played into the opponents' hands./ •/Mary and Bobby both wanted the last piece of cake, but Bobby played into Mary’s hands by trying to grab it./

[play off]{v.} 1. To match opposing persons, forces, or interests so that they balance each other. •/The girl played off her admirers against each other./ •/Britain tried to play off European nations against each other so that she would have a balance of power./ 2. To finish the playing of (an interrupted contest.) •/The visitors came back the next Saturday to play off the game stopped by rain./ 3. To settle (a tie score) between contestants by more play. /When each player had won two matches, the championship was decided by playing off the tie./

[play on] or [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]{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./