- play someone off
- bring other people into conflict for one's own advantage.→ play
English new terms dictionary. 2014.
play someone off
Look at other dictionaries:
play someone off — bring people into conflict or competition for one s own advantage China can no longer play one superpower off against the other … Useful english dictionary
send someone off — (Sport)ORDER OFF, dismiss; show someone the red card; informal red card, send for an early bath, sin bin. → send * * * instruct someone to go; arrange for someone s departure she sent him off to a lecturing engagement ■ (of a referee, esp. in… … Useful english dictionary
play — play1 [ pleı ] verb *** ▸ 1 take part in sport/game ▸ 2 make music/sound ▸ 3 have part in play, etc. ▸ 4 when children have fun ▸ 5 when light moves ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) intransitive or transitive to take part in a sport or game: The girls are out… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
play — verb 1》 engage in games or other activities for enjoyment rather than for a serious or practical purpose. ↘amuse oneself by engaging in imaginative pretence. ↘(play with) treat inconsiderately for one s own amusement: she likes to play… … English new terms dictionary
play off against — phrasal verb [transitive] Word forms play off against : present tense I/you/we/they play off against he/she/it plays off against present participle playing off against past tense played off against past participle played off against play someone… … English dictionary
play — play1 W1S1 [pleı] v ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(children)¦ 2¦(sports/games)¦ 3¦(music)¦ 4¦(radio/cd etc)¦ 5¦(theatre/film)¦ 6 play a part/role 7 play ball 8¦(pretend)¦ 9¦(behave)¦ 10 play games … Dictionary of contemporary English
play — 1 /pleI/ verb 1 CHILDREN (I, T) when children play, they do things that they enjoy, often together or with toys: The children ran off to play on the beach. | play sth: The boys were playing soldiers. | I don t want to play that game! (+ with):… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
play off — verb set into opposition or rivalry let them match their best athletes against ours pit a chess player against the Russian champion He plays his two children off against each other • Syn: ↑pit, ↑oppose, ↑match • Derivationally related for … Useful english dictionary
play — /pleɪ / (say play) noun 1. a dramatic composition or piece; a drama. 2. a dramatic performance, as on the stage. 3. exercise or action by way of amusement or recreation. 4. fun, jest, or trifling, as opposed to earnest: he said it merely in play …
play*/*/*/ — [pleɪ] verb I 1) [I/T] to take part in a sport or game The children were playing football in the park.[/ex] He played for AC Milan before he was transferred to Arsenal.[/ex] 2) [I/T] to compete against someone in a sport or game She plays the… … Dictionary for writing and speaking English
