play possum
To feign death; to remain quiet and still to escape attention or remain undetected; to…To feign death; to remain quiet and still to escape attention or remain undetected; to lie low.
Meaning
3 senses(idiomatic)To feign death; to remain quiet and still to escape attention or remain undetected; to lie low.
Thinking fast, we played possum, hoping the bear wouldn't bother us.
The soldier played possum, fooling the sniper.
sich tot stellen
(idiomatic)To feign sleep, illness, etc.
When we used to get home late at night, I would play possum so my daddy would carry me inside and put me in bed.
(dated, idiomatic)To dissemble or to feign ignorance; to disguise or conceal something in order to deceive.
- to pretend to be dead
Translations
6 languagesBy meaning 1
Origin
From play + possum (“from opposum”), from the behavior of the Virginia opossum, which feigFrom play + possum (“from opposum”), from the behavior of the Virginia opossum, which feigns death when threatened. First use appears c. 1807.
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Forms
plays possum, playing possum, played possum, played possum| Base form | play possum · to play possum |
|---|---|
| 3rd person singular | plays possum |
| Present participle | playing possum |
| Past simple | played possum |
| Past participle | played possum |
irregular
Synonyms
2 synonymsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle