portray

portray (someone or something) as (something)

To describe, represent, or depict someone or something in a particular kind of way, whether with words, images, or performance. The writer portrays London of the 1800s as a bleak, dirty, unwelcoming place. For some reason she decided to portray the character as completely serious and straight, even though she's obviously meant to be an exaggerated, hyperbolic parody in the play.
See also: portray
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

portray someone as someone or something

to represent or describe someone as someone or a type of person. Fred portrayed his political opponent as an evil man. She tried to portray herself as a grand lady, but she fooled no one.
See also: portray

portray someone or something as someone

to develop a character that one is playing in a dramatic production as a kind of person or someone having certain characteristics or a particular personality. Tom portrayed Scrooge as an evil old man. Randy hopes to portray his character as a sympathetic friend.
See also: portray
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • portray (someone or something) as (something)
  • portray as
  • represent (someone or something) as (something)
  • represent as
  • describe (someone or something) to (someone)
  • describe to
  • depict
  • depict (one) as (something)
  • depict as
  • illustrate with
References in periodicals archive
"Aladdin is all about Arabs, yet the only image people have about it, is the one Disney portrayed in its cartoon and film, even though it does not depict Arab culture properly," he explained.
Arabesque: online platform artistically chronicling Arab Heritage
The Lost actor will portray the father of Batman as a billionaire philanthropist in the mayoral race for Gotham.
Joker movie UK release date, Joaquin Phoenix, cast, director plot, trailer; Joker movie is on its way with Joaquin Phoenix portraying the Clown Prince of Crime
, who was the first to portray the main role in "Ang Probinsyano." Her mother, actress Susan Roces, also plays a character in the show.
Lacson calls PNP portrayal in 'Ang Probinsyano' unfair, Poe disagrees
Tyson said that within a year to 18 months, they were going to do the Mike Tyson story and the 46-year-old actor will portray him, and now they had this new animation because Fox was pretty much his age so he could not portray me but they had this new system.
Mike Tyson's character to be portrayed by Jamie Foxx in biopic
Lublubah denied rumors that she was nominated to portray Suzan Mubarak in the film "Lailat Suqoot Al Raees" (The eve of the downfall of the President), which tackles the final hours before former Egyptian President Husni Mubarak stepped down from office.
Lublubah willing to portray Suzan Mubarak
Eighth-grade student Katie Watson, who portrayed poet, translator and journalist Anna Blackwell, said she spent a few weeks gathering everything she needed for her role.
A world of experiences; Students recreate world's fair
At the Moulin Rouge: The Dance portrays a mix of opposites: bright and dull colors, active dancers and passive spectators, merriment and monotonous leisure.
Sexual health in art and science
McAchearn is a white, creepy, raging, obsessive male and if you're going to portray this type of guy south of the Maxon-Dixon line, apparently you must add Bible-thumping to the mix.
The Year the Music Changed: The Letters of Achsa McEachern-Isaacs and Elvis Presley
Because of its unique characteristics, Maritime was used to portray the Massachusetts Police Academy, and its Pentagon sally port was the backdrop for an academy graduation scene.
Maritime movie magic
While mainstream media used images of Malvo to portray him as a cold-blooded killer, DeGraw's Malvos blur easy analysis.
Sketchy characters: Christopher Bollen on courtroom drawings
As a single authored body of work, Johnson s dramas uniquely portray Black families confronting the lynching of one of its members.
Art, activism, and uncompromising attitude in Georgia Douglas Johnson's lynching plays
This confluence of events allowed Royalists to portray the monarchy's restoration as a necessary condition for prosperity in an empire based on trade rather than dominion, reversing the new economic discourse's political valence.
Mammon's Music: Literature and Economics in the Age of Milton
The study, in July, found that many articles and news items in print and visual media portray older people as victims of society, particularly regarding health and social care.
Why older people resent being portrayed as permanent victims
In the best-case scenario, street theater perpetuates itself by casting local extroverts who have never acted, but who understand and can portray oppression and abuse.
Homegrown revolution: Magdaleno Rose-Avila offers a historical perspective on the social action theater of Teatro Campesino