play-act
Britishverb
-
(intr) to pretend or make believe
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(intr) to behave in an overdramatic or affected manner
-
to act in or as in (a play)
Other Word Forms
- play-acting noun
- play-actor noun
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
No, the preferred way to play-act "normal American man" is to be a massive jerk.
From Salon
But he doesn't have the guts to admit it, instead continuing to play-act like he's a great man, even though no one is buying the act.
From Salon
You know, we—alive today—could play-act some truth and reconciliation–style interaction.
From Slate
So you start to just play-act the situation that you're in and see if you can get out of it.
From The Guardian
And because Trump loves to play-act being a tough guy while avoiding all difficult decisions, he tried to take personal credit for ordering Reinoehl's death.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
