play along

verb

intrusually foll bywith to cooperate (with), esp as a temporary measure
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

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

Administration officials are only too happy to play along as well.

For my own sanity—as morally discomfiting as it is—I'm planning to play along.

They wanted to pretend they had a plan and have the new PM play along.

The agent would have to play along with the mood of the crowd to maintain cover, irrespective of personal feelings and reactions.

Refusing the play along the new rules, Bachmann plans to continue her reelection in her old district, arguing that it is her home.

And they knew by experience that it would be a Striped Bass, or perhaps a Cod, for these fishes play along near the shore.

We play along like always, and Hotlips has his trumpet pressed into his face, and nothing but beautiful sounds come from the band.

My part will play along with anyone except Belle; hers with anybody except me.

I suggest you change your attitude; play along with them for a few days till the picture becomes a little clearer to you.

"You're not casual enough, for one thing," said Pembroke, deciding to play along with her for the moment.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Browse