Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц
Шрифт:
[play along (with)]{v.} Cooperate; make no trouble. •/The honest jockey refused to play along with the bookmaker’s illegal plan./
[play a part in]{v. phr.} To be instrumental in; have a role in; be concerned with. •/Some First Ladies play a greater part in political life than others./
[play around] See: FOOL AROUND.
[play around with] See: TOY WITH.
[play a waiting game]{v. phr.} To withhold action until one’s chances for success improve. •/Ray would like to be vice president of the company so he is playing a waiting game in the hope that the president will soon recognize his abilities./
[play ball]{v. phr.} 1. To begin play in a ball game. •/When the umpire calls "Play ball," the game begins./ 2. {informal} To join in an effort with others; cooperate. •/To get along during Prohibition, many men felt that they had to play ball with gangsters./ •/A is often good business to play ball with a political machine./
[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./