make a play for someone

make a play for (someone or something)

1. To attempt to attract someone romantically. I know she's way out of my league, but I'm going to make a play for Stacy.
2. To attempt to attain something, often through some kind of plan or scheme. We need a quarterback, so we're going to make a play for Jones in the offseason. Most start-ups are formed in the hope that some huge corporation will make a play for them before they get too big.
See also: make, play
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

make a play for someone

If someone makes a play for a person who they find sexually attractive, they try to start a relationship with them. All the girls made a play for him. If a woman makes an obvious play for a man it can be very flattering.
See also: make, play, someone
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • make a play for
  • make a play for (someone or something)
  • make a play for somebody/something
  • make a play for something
  • dialog
  • try back
  • try someone back
  • try someone back again
  • take a gamble
  • explain to