play at (doing something)
play at (doing something)
To do or partake in something with halfhearted or minimal effort. Quit playing at cleaning the car and just do it! Each day I dutifully sit down at my desk, coffee in hand, but I only play at writing—I haven't been able to write anything substantive in months.
See also: play
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
play at something
to pretend to be doing something. You are not fixing the car, you are just playing at repair work! Stop playing at doing the dishes and get the job done.
See also: play
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
play at
Do or take part in half-heartedly, as in She was just playing at keeping house, letting the others do all the work. [Mid-1800s]
See also: play
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
play at
v.
1. To pretend to be or to do something for amusement or out of curiosity: He was just playing at being a cowboy.
2. To do or take part in something halfheartedly: You're playing at your work and not taking it seriously enough.
See also: play
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- play at
- partake of
- partake of (something)
- stay for
- stay for (something)
- keep (something) on the hush
- keep (something) on the hush-hush
- caviar to the general
- keep (something) on the down low
- keep it on the down-low