in play

Idioms  

1. In action or operation. For example, A number of conflicting forces were in play, so the outcome was uncertain . It is also put as bring into play , meaning “to put into action,” as in The surprise witness brought new evidence into play . [Mid-1600s]

2. In sports, in a position to be legally or feasibly played, as in The ball is now in play . [Late 1700s]

3. In business, in a position for a possible corporate takeover, as in After a news item said the company was in play, the price of its stock began to rise . [ Colloquial ; second half of 1900s]

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Example Sentences

She’s learned to conceive her pieces considering that in his movies real water, mud, snow and fake blood might be in play.

From Los Angeles Times

Round number theory has been in play, with shares oscillating between $300 and $400 since breaking into that range late last May.

From Barron's

That Adli may not have been able to keep the ball in play does not matter, only that it was still in when the foul contact happened.

From BBC

Can any fair have comparable impact today when so many other global forces are in play?

From The Wall Street Journal

But Slegers said the breaks in play affected their momentum and made the game less attractive to watch.

From BBC

Related Words

• alive
• effective
• operating