play (someone) off against (someone)
play (someone) off against (someone)
To manipulate two opposing sides of an argument, conflict, competition, etc., against one another for one's own benefit or advantage. My father and my uncle are engaged in a bitter business rivalry. If I can play them off against each other, I might be able to secure some sizeable investments for my own company. Janet has been playing Mary off against her boyfriend, Mike, so that Janet can date him herself. Don't you see? They've been playing us off against each other so that there's less competition for them to deal with.
See also: off, play
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
play someone off against (someone else)
to scheme in a manner that pits two of your adversaries against one another. Bill wanted to beat me up and so did Bob. I did some fast talking, and they ended up fighting with each other. I really played Bill off against Bob. The president played the House off against the Senate and ended up getting his own way.
See also: off, play
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- play both ends
- play both ends against the middle
- play both ends against the middle, to
- play both sides against the middle
- play each end against the other
- play each side against the other
- play off against
- play one against another
- play one end against the other
- play one off against another/each other/the other