[play by ear]{v. phr.} 1. To play a musical instrument by rememberingthe tune, not by reading music. •/Mary does not know how to read music. Sheplays the piano by ear./ •/Joe doesn’t need any music sheets when he playshis 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 hisinterview./ •/It was her first job and she didn’t know what to expect, sowe had to play it by ear./

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

[play down]{v.} To give less emphasis to; make (something) seem lessimportant; divert attention from; draw notice away from. •/The newspaperstories played down the actor’s unattractive past./ •/A salesman’s job isto emphasize the good points of his merchandise; he must play down any faultsit 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: ALLIN.

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

[play fast and loose]{v. phr.} To do as you please without caring whatwill happen to other people; act so carelessly or unfairly that people cannotdepend on you; be very unreliable. •/He played fast and loose with the girl’saffections./ •/He played fast and loose with the company’s good name./

[play footsie]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Touch the feetof 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 offlirtation or collaboration, especially in a political situation. •/The mayorwas suspected of playing footsie with the Syndicate./

[play for keeps]{v. phr.} To take an action of finality andirreversibility. •/"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; befickle; be coy. •/"Professor Brown is playing very hard to get," our deansaid, "but I know he will accept our offer and come to teach here."/

[play havoc with] or [raise havoc with] {v. phr.} To causedestruction; ruin; injure badly. •/The storm played havoc with the appleorchard./ •/When Ralph was arrested for stealing the car, it played havocwith his plans for going to college./ •/When Mr. White poisoned the cat, itplayed 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 duringthe year./

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

[play off]{v.} 1. To match opposing persons, forces, or interests sothat they balance each other. •/The girl played off her admirers against eachother./ •/Britain tried to play off European nations against each other sothat she would have a balance of power./ 2. To finish the playing of (aninterrupted contest.) •/The visitors came back the next Saturday to play offthe game stopped by rain./ 3. To settle (a tie score) between contestants bymore play. /When each player had won two matches, the championship was decidedby 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 uponfor a planned effect; excite to a desired action by cunning plans; manage.•/The makeup salesman played on the woman’s wish to look beautiful./ •/Insome places, leaders play upon people’s superstitious fears./ •/He playedon the man’s ambition and love of honor./

[play one false]{v. phr.}, {literary} To act disloyally toward (aperson); betray; cheat; deceive. •/Good faith was not in him: he playedanyone 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 asucker./

[play one’s cards right] or [play one’s cards well] {v. phr.},{informal} To use abilities and opportunities so as to be successful; actcleverly; make the best use of your place or skills. •/That millionairestarted 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 toget ahead rapidly./

[play ostrich]{v. phr.} To refuse to face painful facts or unpleasanttruths. •/She plays ostrich when it comes to her husband’s drinkingproblem./

[play politics]{v. phr.} To make secret agreements for your own gain;handle different groups for your own advantage. •/In order to get elected, hehad to play politics with both the unions and the bosses./ •/Mary alwaysgets 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 playingpossum./ 2. To stay quiet for self-protection; try to escape attention byinactivity. •/The rabbit played possum under the bushes, hoping the hunterwould not see him./ •/Bob played possum when the teacher looked around./

[play safe] or [play it safe] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be verycareful; accept small gains or none to avoid loss; avoid danger for the sake ofsafety. •/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 andstopped 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 andhe played second fiddle to her./ •/During the tournament, lessons playedsecond 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 devilwith our own plans to travel./ •/Mother’s illness played hob with ourparty./

[play the field]{v. phr.}, {informal} To date many differentpeople; not always have dates with the same person. •/Al had a steadygirlfriend, 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 todesert his wife./ •/"Oh, let’s play the game," he said, when his partnersuggested a way to keep from paying some of their debts./ •/Your parentswant you to play the game in life./