play off
To portray; to dismiss or make light of; to pretend not to be embarrassed, upset,…To portray (something) (as unimportant); to dismiss or make light of (a factor in a situation, or one's embarrassment about it); to pretend not to be embarrassed, upset, impressed, or otherwise affected by (it).
» Paul played the noise off as his imagination.
Meaning
4 senses(often, transitive)To portray (something) (as unimportant); to dismiss or make light of (a factor in a situation, or one's embarrassment about it); to pretend not to be embarrassed, upset, impressed, or otherwise affected by (it).
After tripping, Sara tried to play her embarrassment off by laughing with everyone else.
Although he's obviously hungover, he's trying to play it off as food poisoning.
(transitive)To set (other people) against one another: to induce competition between them, especially in a covert way so that they do not realize the degree to which they have been played (manipulated).
Stalin's propensity to play off his subordinates against one another is a well-studied theme.
(intransitive, transitive)To compete in a play-off; to compete against (an opponent) in a play-off.
(dated, transitive)To display; to show; to put in exercise.
to play off tricks
- set into opposition or rivalry
Examples
11 sentencesPaul played the noise off as his imagination.
Play me off, Tom.
Yanni played that sound off as his imagination.
Ziri tried to play it off as a joke.
She skilfully plays her suitors off against each other.
deSie spielt ihre Verehrer geschickt gegeneinander aus.
Forms
plays off, playing off, played off, played off| Base form | play off · to play off |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | plays off |
| Present participle | playing off |
| Past simple | played off |
| Past participle | played off |
irregular
Phrasal verbs
15 phrasal verbs- play upвитягти, витягатиUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, up.
- play offвідповідати, зійтисяTo portray (something) (as unimportant); to dismiss or make light of (a factor in a situation, or one's embarrassment about it); to pretend not to be embarrassed, upset, impressed, or otherwise affected by (it).
- play outнабридати, втомлюватисяTo play (a game etc.) to its conclusion.
- play downзрубати, зрубуватиTo make or attempt to make something seem less important, likely, or obvious.
- play alongслідувати, дотримуватисяTo take part in a charade, deception, or practical joke.
- play onTo exploit (a potential weakness or vulnerability) by exacerbating.
- play inUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, in.
- play backTo replay a recording.
More 7
- play awayTo be sexually unfaithful out of one's home
- play intoTo support (an idea or plan).
- play aroundTo behave in a silly, childish, or irresponsible way.
- play throughTo overtake a slower group of players ahead of one's own group, rather than waiting for them to finish the hole before proceeding.
- play aboutSynonym of play around.
- play withUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: play with.
- play toUsed other than figuratively or idiomatically: see play, to.
Synonyms
3 synonymsWord family
2 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Phrasal verbs: introduction — Because it is a phrasal verb