play the field

Idioms  

1. Date more than one person; avoid an exclusive commitment. For example, All of Joe's friends are married now, but he continues to play the field. This term originated in British horseracing, where it meant “to bet on every horse in a race except the favorite.” It was transferred to other activities about 1930.

---

Example Sentences

He has yet to play the field in a game, limited to designated hitting duties on Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2025

Twins: Baldelli said Lewis wasn’t quite ready to play the field, as the DH continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

From Washington Times • Oct. 8, 2023

“I want to play the field every single day,” said Dickerson, who debuted at Nationals Park in 2013 while with the Colorado Rockies and has a 1.061 OPS in 120 career plate appearances against Washington.

From Washington Post • Jan. 10, 2023

He never played in more than 104 games of Japan’s 143-game season, chiefly because he typically did not play the field on the day before or after a start.

From New York Times • Jun. 29, 2021

Mark McGwire, unable to play the field due to patella tendinitis in his right knee, hit first, grounded to shortstop and came out of St. Louis’ game at Pittsburgh on Sept. 12, 2000.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2021