play along
Britishverb
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to cooperate (with), esp as a temporary measure
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(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
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.
Analysts play along because it helps them maintain strong relationships with companies’ management.
From Barron's • Mar. 24, 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
The Trojans are 5-1 in a new era where even two-loss teams can qualify and, OK, just play along here for a sec.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 12, 2025
I play along even though my heart’s not really in it.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
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.
