play a joke on

play a joke (on one)

To trick one or do something to make them appear foolish; to play a prank (on one). It took me a while to realize that my brother was playing a joke on me. The kids tried to play a joke on the babysitter by pretending to be her boyfriend on the phone.
See also: joke, play
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

play a joke on someone

to make a joke that tricks someone. The children played a joke on their teacher. I don't like it when you play jokes on me.
See also: joke, on, play
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • play a joke (on one)
  • put (something) over on (one)
  • put over on
  • put something over on
  • from the sublime to the ridiculous
  • parted
  • a fool and his money are soon parted
  • fool and his money are soon parted
  • fool and his money are soon parted, a