play at

Idioms  

1. Do or take part in half-heartedly, as in She was just playing at keeping house, letting the others do all the work. [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

play at

It was a moment of personal fulfilment for Sir Patrick who, as an awed teenager, remembered watching Peter O'Toole in the play at the Bristol Old Vic.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

“We’re all on audibles. We can go one play at a time.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

Yeo has delayed surgery on a torn pectoral muscle to play at the World Cup.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

Usually on Sundays, the Dodgers play at 1 o’clock, but if it’s a nationally broadcast game sometimes it’ll be on at 4 o’clock.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

She was referring to Maya’s obsession with making the world’s largest dot game to play at lunchtime.

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio

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