portray (someone or something) as (something)
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 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
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
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
- portray
- 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 (something) with (something)