play /pleɪ/ ► SEE ALLplay about, etc. play along (with sb/sth)play aroundplay around with sthplay at doing sth play awayplay away from home play sth back (to sb)play sth downplay off play A off against B play onplay on sthplay out play outplay itself/themselves out play sth outplay upplay sb up play up sthplay up to sb play up to sth play upon sthplay with sb/sth play with sthplay with yourself ●ˌplay aˈbout, etc. (BrE) ➡play around, etc.●ˌplay aˈlong (with sb/sth)to pretend to agree with sb/sth, to believe sb/sth, etc., to gain an advantage, amuse yourself, avoid trouble, etc.假意顺从；假装相信◆He realized they’d mistaken him for the gardener, but decided to play along. 他意识到他们误以为他是园丁，但决定将错就错。◆I knew he was lying, but I decided to play along with him. 我知道他在撒谎，但我想还是先不戳穿他。[v + adv]●ˌplay aˈround🔑 (BrE alsoˌplay aˈbout) 1.(with sb/sth)to behave in a careless way, without thinking about the results胡闹；乱弄◆Stop playing about and get on with your work! 别瞎折腾了，干你的活儿去吧！◆Don’t play around with matches! 别玩火柴！SYNmess around(with sb/sth), mess around with sth (BrE) ➡ see also play around with sth2.(with sb) (informal) to have a sexual relationship with sb who is not your usual partner（和某人）偷情，鬼混，厮混 ➡ note at cheat on sb[v + adv]●ˌplay aˈround with sth🔑 (BrE alsoˌplay aˈbout with sth) to test or try new ideas, methods, etc. to see how good or effective they are before you make a final decision试验，尝试（新想法、新方法等）◆Play around with the spreadsheet until you find the best way to display the data. 试着用电子制表，以摸索出显示这些数据的最佳方法。◆We’re still playing around with ideas for a new programme. 我们仍然在构思新项目。[v + adv + prep]●ˈplay at doing sth (especially BrE) to do sth without any effort or real interest敷衍；应付◆He’s just playing at being in love. 他谈恋爱只不过是逢场作戏。[v + prep] ●ˈtwo can play at ˈthat gameused to tell sb who has played a trick on you that you can do the same to them（表示可以其人之道还治其人之身）那套花招你会我也会，我照样能以牙还牙●what is sb playing at? (informal) used to ask in an angry way what sb is doing（气愤地质问）…搞什么鬼名堂◆What do you think you’re playing at? 你以为你在搞什么鬼把戏？●ˌplay aˈway●ˌplay away from ˈhome (BrE) 1. (of a sports team体育运动队) to play a match at the opponent’s ground or stadium客场作战；打客场2. (of a person who is married or who has a regular sexual partner已婚者或有固定伴侣者) to have a secret sexual relationship with sb else有婚外情；有外遇；有另外的性伙伴[v + adv]●ˌplay sth ˈback (to sb)to play music, sound, images, etc. that have been recorded on a tape, video, etc.（为某人）播放（录音、录像等）◆Can you play back what we’ve just recorded? 把我们刚录制的内容播放一下好吗？OBJtape[v + n/pron + adv][v + adv + n]▸ˈplayback
noun
[uncountable, countable] the act of playing music, showing a film/movie or listening to a telephone message that has been recorded before; a recording that you listen to or watch again录音（或录像、电话留言等）的播放；播放的录音（或录像、电话留言等）◆A TV playback showed exactly what had happened. 电视播放的录像原原本本再现了事件的经过。●ˌplay sth ˈdownto try to make sth appear less important than it is降低…的重要性；贬低；淡化◆The government is trying to play down its involvement in the affair. 政府正极力淡化与此事的牵连。OPPplay up sth, play it/them upNOTEDownplay sth is also used with the same meaning * downplay sth 也作此义◆The report downplayed the effects of large class sizes in schools. 报告对学校大班级的负面影响轻描淡写。[v + adv + n][v + pron + adv][v + n + adv] (rare) ●ˌplay ˈoff (especially BrE) if two teams, players, etc. that have the same number of points in a competition play off, they play a final game to decide who has won（平局后为决出胜负）进行加赛，进行决胜比赛◆The two Germans played off for a place in the final. 两名德国选手加赛一场以争夺决赛权。[v + adv]▸ˈplay-off
noun
a game or games between two players or teams with equal points in a competition to decide who the winner is（平局后决出胜负的）加时赛，延长赛◆We’re unlikely to reach the play-offs. 我们不大可能进入加时赛。◆The title was decided by a sudden-death play-off. 冠军是由采取突然死亡法赛制的加时赛决出的。◆a play-off final 加时决赛●ˌplay A ˈoff against B (BrE) (NAmEˈplay A off B) to make two people or groups oppose each other, especially in order to gain an advantage for yourself引起…之间的矛盾，挑拨离间（以从中渔利）◆ (BrE) He tries to play one parent off against the other. 他试图挑拨父母不和。◆ (NAmE) The children played their parents off each other. 孩子们搞得他们父母闹不和。◆She played her two rivals off against each other and got the job herself. 她鼓动两个对手相互争斗，从而自己得到了那份工作。[v + n/pron + adv + prep][v + n/pron + prep]●ˌplay ˈon1. (sport体育) to continue to play; to start playing again继续比赛；恢复比赛◆They claimed a penalty but the referee told them to play on. 他们要求判罚，但裁判却要他们继续比赛。2.to continue to play music继续奏乐◆Despite the uproar, the musicians played on. 乐手们不顾喧闹继续演奏。[v + adv]●ˈplay on sth ( ˈplay upon sthmore formal) to deliberately use sb’s fears, etc. for your own advantage利用（他人的恐惧等）◆He played on my feelings of guilt to make me stay. 他利用我的内疚感让我留下。◆The government played on people’s fears of rising crime to get support for their policies. 政府利用人们对犯罪率上升的恐惧来获取他们对政策的支持。OBJfears SYNexploit sth (formal) [v + prep]●ˌplay ˈout (informal) if a band, etc. plays out, it performs in front of an audience（乐队等）演出◆Serious bands should be playing out regularly. 正规乐队应该定期演出。◆Playing out is the best way for a DJ to build a following. 现场表演是流行音乐节目主持人赢得拥趸的最佳途径。[v + adv]●ˌplay ˈout●ˌplay itself/themselves ˈout (formal) to develop and come to an end or be no longer useful or important衰竭；式微；结束◆The crisis has yet to play out. 危机尚待消除。◆The revolution soon played itself out. 革命很快就悄无声息了。[v + adv][v + pron + adv]▸ˌplayed ˈout
adjective
completely finished; too tired or weak to continue完结；筋疲力尽；衰竭◆She was played out—too exhausted even to cry. 她疲惫不堪——累得连哭的力气也没有了。●ˌplay sth ˈout1.when an action is played out, or sb plays it out, it happens（使）发生，出现◆The negotiations are being played out behind closed doors. 谈判正在秘密进行。◆She continued to play out her role of dutiful daughter. 她继续恪守她作为女儿的本分。NOTEOften used in the passive.常用于被动语态。2. (especially NAmE) to continue to play sth until it finishes继续将（比赛等）完成◆We’ll play out this game and then go to bed. 我们这一局结束就去睡觉。3.to let a length of rope pass through your hands bit by bit（从手中）缓缓放出（绳索）[v + adv + n][v + n/pron + adv]●ˌplay ˈup●ˌplay sb ˈup (informal, especially BrE) 1.if sth plays up or plays you up, it causes you problems出问题；给…添麻烦◆The car started playing up about six months ago. 这辆车六个月前就开始出毛病了。◆The computer’s been playing me up recently. 计算机最近总是给我添堵。◆My leg’s playing up again (= it is painful). 我的腿又疼起来了。◆My back plays me up from time to time. 我的背不时出现酸痛。2.if children play up or play sb up, they behave very badly（孩子）惹麻烦，调皮捣蛋◆The kids have been playing up all day. 孩子们胡闹了一整天。◆All kids play new teachers up. 所有孩子都戏弄新老师。NOTEPlay up, play sb up are often used in the progressive tenses. * play up、play sb up 常用于进行时。[v + n/pron + adv][v + adv + n]●ˌplay ˈup sthto try to make sth appear more important than it really is夸大…的重要性；渲染；吹嘘◆She played up her achievements in an attempt to impress us. 她吹嘘自己的成就，好让我们觉得她了不起。OPPplay sth downNOTEWhen the object of play up is a noun, it comes after up, but when the object is a pronoun, it comes between play and up * play up 的宾语如果是名词，应置于 up 之后；但如果是代词，应置于 play 和 up 之间◆He has some financial problems, but the newspapers have really played them up. 他的财务出了些问题，但报界肆意渲染。[v + adv + n][v + pron + adv]●ˌplay ˈup to sb (BrE) to behave towards sb in a way that you think they will like and will bring you an advantage献媚；讨好；奉承；迎合◆She always played up to her father. 她总是讨好她的父亲。[v + adv + prep]●ˌplay ˈup to sth (especially BrE) to behave in the way that people expect you to迎合，顺应（他人的期望）◆People think she’s only twenty, and she plays up to this all the time. 别人以为她只有二十岁，于是她干脆装嫩充小。[v + adv + prep]●ˈplay upon sth➡play on sth●ˈplay with sb/sth (disapproving) to behave towards sb in a way that is not serious, especially by pretending to feel sth you do not feel轻率对待；对…虚情假意◆She was just playing with my emotions. 她只不过是在玩弄我的感情。[v + prep]●ˈplay with sth🔑1.to keep touching or moving sth（不停）触摸，拨弄◆She was playing with her hair. 她在摆弄自己的头发。◆Stop playing with your food! 不要再玩吃的东西！2.to use things in different ways to produce an interesting or humorous effect, or to see what effect they have（以不同的方式）运用（以取得有趣或诙谐的效果等）◆In this poem Fitch plays with words which sound alike. 在这首诗中，菲奇用同音字玩起了文字游戏。◆The composer plays with the exotic sounds of Japanese instruments. 作曲家谱曲时加入了具有异国风味的日本乐器奏出的乐音。3. (usually used in the progressive tenses通常用于进行时) if you play with an idea, you think about it, but do not really intend to do anything about it随意想想◆She’s playing with the idea of starting her own business. 她的创业念头只是随便想想而已。OBJidea SYNtoy with sth[v + prep]●ˈplay with yourself (informal) to touch your sexual organs in order to give yourself pleasure手淫；自慰[v + prep]
