play along

British  

verb

1. to cooperate (with), esp as a temporary measure

2. (tr) to manipulate as if in a game, esp for one's own advantage

   he played the widow along until she gave him her money

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play along Idioms  

1. Cooperate or pretend to cooperate, as in They decided to play along with the robbers, at least for a while. [Colloquial; 1920s]

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Example Sentences

It’s this exposé of societal absurdity and Meursault’s atheistic refusal to play along with pacifying notions of sin and redemption, that makes“The Stranger” a pinnacle of confrontational literature.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

So far, it has paid for investors to play along.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

When useful idiots play along, the hypocrisy is double: Perpetrators pretend to be humane, and apologists pretend to believe them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 9, 2026

She'd fallen in love with her mum's Elton John albums and wanted to play along.

From BBC • Oct. 23, 2025

Mom and Dad were both still looking at him doubtfully, but it seemed like they were willing to play along.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix