play

play

informal A particular form or type of sexual activity, especially involving role-play. Usually used in combinations. I don't consider myself a particularly kinky person, but I do like a bit of light BDSM play from time to time.

play the fool

To behave comically or playfully, often to amuse others. Joe never plays the fool—he's always serious. If you continue to play the fool, you're going to have to leave the classroom.
See also: fool, play
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

play

1. n. a strategy; a plan of action. That was a bad play, Bill. We lost the account.
2. n. an attractive investment; a way to make some money in the securities markets. I just heard about a good play in the options market.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

play

/act the fool
1. To act in an irresponsible or foolish manner.
2. To behave in a playful or comical manner.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See:
  • (one) is not playing with a full deck
  • a game at which two can play
  • a game that two can play
  • a level playing field
  • a play on words
  • act the fool
  • act/play the fool
  • act/play the goat
  • against the run of play
  • all work and no play
  • all work and no play (makes Jack a dull boy)
  • All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
  • allow (something) full play
  • and I don't play one on TV
  • and the band played on
  • at full blast
  • at play
  • be child's play
  • be not playing the game
  • be not playing with a full deck
  • be played like a fiddle
  • be playing with fire
  • bring (something) into play
  • bring into play
  • bring something into play
  • bring/call/put something into play
  • by the book
  • call (something) into play
  • cat and mouse, game of/to play
  • child's play
  • child's play, easy as/that's
  • close of play
  • come into play
  • cry heart out
  • devil's advocate, (to play)
  • don't play (around) with me
  • double play
  • draw play
  • end of play
  • fair play
  • fair play (to you)
  • fair play to someone
  • few bricks short of a load
  • for keeps
  • foul play
  • game that two can play
  • game that two can play, that's a
  • get played like a fiddle
  • give (something) full play
  • go play in (the) traffic
  • grandstand play
  • grandstand play, make a
  • Hail Mary play
  • have (something) to play with
  • have a part in (something)
  • have a part to play
  • have a role in (something)
  • have money, time, etc. to play with
  • have no part in/of (something)
  • have/play/take/want no part in/of something
  • he who plays with fire gets burnt
  • hide and seek
  • hold (one's) cards close to (one's) chest
  • homie don't play that
  • horseplay
  • if there's grass on the field, play ball
  • if there's grass on the pitch, play ball
  • If you play with fire, you get burned
  • If you play with fire, you get burnt
  • if you wanna play, you gotta pay
  • in play
  • in/out of play
  • keep (one's) cards close to (one's) chest
  • keep/hold/play your cards close to your chest
  • let (something) play out
  • let things play out
  • level playing field
  • level the playing field
  • long-playing record
  • make (a) big play of (something)
  • make (a) great play of (something)
  • make a grandstand play
  • make a play
  • make a play for
  • make a play for (someone or something)
  • make a play for somebody/something
  • make a play for someone
  • make a play for something
  • make great play of something
  • make great, much, etc. play of/with something
  • make much play of (something)
  • make much play with (something)
  • make play of
  • make play of (something)
  • musical chairs, play
  • neighborhood play
  • nice play, Shakespeare
  • Nice play, Shakespeare!
  • not play that game
  • not playing with a full deck
  • old warhorse
  • out of play
  • part to play
  • party and play
  • pay-for-play
  • pay-to-play
  • play
  • play (all) the angles
  • play (merry) hell with (someone or something)
  • play (one) at (one's) own game
  • play (one) false
  • play (one) for a fool
  • play (one) for a sucker
  • play (one's) ace (card)
  • play (one's) cards close to (one's) chest
  • play (one's) cards close to (one's) vest
  • play (one's) cards right
  • play (one's) cards well
  • play (one's) heart out
  • play (one's) hunch
  • play (one's) part
  • play (one's) trump card
  • play (oneself) in
  • play (right) into (one's) hands
  • play (right) into the hands of (one)
  • play (someone) like a fiddle
  • play (someone) off against (someone)
  • play (someone's) game
  • play (something) close to (one's) chest
  • play (something) close to (one's)/the vest
  • play (something) for all (something) is worth
  • play (something) off as (something else)
  • play (something) over
  • play (something) with (one)
  • play (the) devil's advocate
  • play (the) wag
  • play (up) Old Gooseberry
  • play (up)on (something)
  • play 3D chess
  • play a big part
  • play a big part (in something)
  • play a big role (in something)
  • play a bit part
  • play a bit part (in something)
  • play a bit role (in something)
  • play a blinder
  • play a good knife and fork
  • play a hunch
  • play a joke (on one)
  • play a joke on
  • play a large part
  • play a large part (in something)
  • play a large role (in something)
  • play a losing game
  • play a part in
  • play a part in (something)
  • play a practical joke (on one)
  • play a prank (on one)
  • play a role in (something)
  • play a small part (in something)
  • play a small role (in something)
  • play a straight bat
  • play a trick (on one)
  • play a trick on
  • play a waiting game
  • play a/your part
  • play about
  • play against
  • play along
  • play around
  • play around with (something)
  • play around with someone
  • play as
  • play at
  • play at (doing something)
  • play at being (something)
  • play away
  • play away from home
  • play back
  • play ball
  • play ball with
  • play ball with (one)
  • play ball with someone
  • play ball with, to
  • play both ends
  • play both ends against the middle
  • play both ends against the middle, to
  • play both sides against the middle
  • play by (one's) own rules
  • play by (one's) rules
  • play by ear
  • play by somebody's rules
  • play by the rules
  • play cards
  • play cards close to chest
  • play cards right
  • play cat and mouse
  • play cat and mouse with
  • play catch-up
  • play Cupid
  • play dead
  • play devil's advocate
  • play dirty
  • play down
  • play down to
  • play down to (someone)
  • play ducks and drakes with
  • play ducks and drakes with (one)
  • play ducks and drakes with someone
  • play dumb
  • play each end against the other
  • play each side against the other
  • play fair
  • play fair/straight
  • play false
  • play fast and loose
  • play fast and loose (with someone or something)
  • play fast and loose with someone/something
  • play fast and loose, to
  • play favourites
  • play first chair
  • play first fiddle
  • play footsie
  • play footsie with
  • play footsie with someone
  • play footsie(s) (with someone)
  • play for
  • play for a fool
  • play for both teams
  • play for keeps
  • play for laughs
  • play for love
  • play for the other team
  • play for time
  • play freeze out
  • play freeze-out
  • play games
  • play games (with one)
  • play God
  • play gooseberry
  • play hard to get
  • play hardball
  • play hardball (with one)
  • play hardball with someone
  • play havoc
  • play havoc with
  • play havoc with (someone or something)
  • play hell
  • play hell with
  • play hell with somebody/something
  • play hell with someone/something
  • play hell with something
  • play hide and seek
  • play hide the baloney
  • play hide the bologna
  • play hide the hot dog
  • play hide the pickle
  • play hide the salami
  • play hide the sausage
  • play hob
  • play hob (with someone or something)
  • play hookey
  • play hooky
  • play ignorant
  • play in
  • play in Peoria
  • play in the big leagues
  • play innocent
  • play into hands
  • play into somebody's hands
  • play into someone's hands
  • play into the hands of
  • play it by ear
  • play it by ear, to
  • play it close to one's chest
  • play it cool
  • play it for all it's worth
  • play it safe
  • play it straight
  • play kissy-face
  • play kissy-face (with someone)
  • play kissy-kissy (with someone)
  • play like
  • play like (something)
  • play merry hell
  • play musical chairs
  • play musical chairs, to
  • play no part in/of (something)
  • play off
  • play off against
  • play Old Harry with (something)
  • play on
  • play on heartstrings
  • play on the/(one's) heartstrings
  • play on words
  • play one against another
  • play one end against the other
  • play one off against another/each other/the other
  • play one side against the other
  • play one's cards close to one's chest, to
  • play one's cards right
  • play one's cards right/well, to
  • play out
  • play out of (one's) skin
  • play over
  • play phone tag
  • play pocket pool
  • play politics
  • play possum
  • play possum, to
  • play Russian roulette
  • play safe
  • play second fiddle
  • play second fiddle to
  • play second fiddle, to
  • play somebody's game
  • play someone at their own game
  • play someone false
  • play someone for a fool
  • play someone's game
  • play something by ear
  • play something for laughs
  • play straight
  • play telephone tag
  • play the (something) card
  • play the card
  • play the devil with
  • play the devil with (something)
  • play the devil with someone/something
  • play the dozens
  • play the field
  • play the field, to
  • play the fool
  • play the game
  • play the game, to
  • play the gender card
  • play the goat
  • play the hand (one) is dealt
  • play the heavy
  • play the heavy, to
  • play the horses
  • play the market
  • play the papers
  • play the percentage game
  • play the percentages
  • play the ponies
  • play the race card
  • play the waiting game
  • play three-dimensional chess
  • play through
  • play to
  • play to (one's) strengths
  • play to the crowd
  • play to the gallery
  • play to the gallery, to
  • play to win
  • play to your strengths
  • play tonsil hockey
  • play tricks on
  • play truant
  • play trump card
  • play up
  • play up to
  • play up to (one)
  • play well with others
  • play with
  • play with (one)
  • play with (oneself)
  • play with (something)
  • play with a full deck
  • play with fire
  • play with fire, to
  • play with loaded dice
  • play with yourself
  • play your ace
  • play your cards close to your chest
  • play your cards right
  • play yourself in
  • play/wreak havoc with something
  • play-by-play (description)
  • play-by-play description
  • played out
  • power play
  • put (something) into play
  • rain stopped play
  • raise havoc with
  • raise hob with
  • roll over and play dead
  • run of play
  • Russian roulette, to play
  • squeeze play
  • state of play
  • Take a long walk off a short pier
  • take no part in/of (something)
  • that's (just) the way it plays
  • that's a game that two can play
  • the state of play
  • the way it plays
  • there's many a good tune played on an old fiddle
  • trump card
  • turn the tables, to
  • turnabout is fair play
  • two can play (at) that game
  • two can play (at) this game
  • two can play at that game
  • Two can play this game
  • want no part in/of (something)
  • way it plays
  • well played
  • What is (someone) playing at?
  • what's somebody playing at?
  • when the band begins to play
  • when the cat's away (the mice will play)
  • when the cat's away the mice will play
  • when the cat's away, the mice will play
  • Will it play in Peoria?
  • wordplay
References in classic literature
Year after year the same guild acted the same play. And it really seemed as if the pageant was in many cases chosen to suit the trade of the players.
But did you ever wonder how plays and theaters came to be?
English Literature For Boys And Girls
But unity both of material and of atmosphere suffers not only from the diversity among the separate plays but also from the violent intrusion of the comedy and the farce which the coarse taste of the audience demanded.
Sometimes the entire cycle was still given, like the detached plays, at a single spot, the market-place or some other central square; but often, to accommodate the great crowds, there were several 'stations' at convenient intervals.
A History of English Literature
I answered drily that I had very little money in my possession, and that, consequently, I was hardly in a position to indulge in any conspicuous play, even if I did gamble.
"Because I wish to play FOR MYSELF," I replied with a feigned glance of astonishment.
Gambler
"What passion!" "What an artist!" "I have always said no one could play Chopin like Mademoiselle Reisz!" "That last prelude!
The mother played her accompaniments and at the same time watched her daughter with greedy admiration and nervous apprehension.
Awakening and Selected Short Stories
The flutter on the Tonopah Stock Exchange lasted just ten days, during which time his smashing, wild-bull game played ducks and drakes with the more stereotyped gamblers, and at the end of which time, having gambled Floridel into his fist, he let go for a net profit of half a million.
And it was well that Daylight played closely at first, for he was astounded by the multitudes of sharks--"ground-sharks," he called them--that flocked about him.
Burning Daylight
A short silence succeeded her leaving them; but her brother soon returned to business and Lovers' Vows, and was eagerly looking over the play, with Mr.
Mansfield Park
All day long they played, and in the evening they came to the Giant to bid him good-bye.
The Happy Prince and Other Tales
D'Arnault played until his manager came and shut the piano.
My Antonia
He became absorbed in trying out the idea, and even borrowed a circus rider whose act was to play the violin while standing on the back of a galloping horse and to throw somersaults on such precarious platform while still playing the violin.
Michael Brother of Jerry
I knew him on the stage in most of the plays that used to be given.
My Literary Passions