play doctor
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of play doctor
First recorded in 1920–25
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.
The new production will see Smith play doctor Thomas Stockmann, a medical officer who finds the public baths are contaminated.
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2023
“But I was miserable. I’m getting paid $17.50 an hour to play doctor all day. It was not worth it.”
From Washington Post ● Dec. 5, 2022
"They felt invested with the most important mission of their life, being able to play doctor, policeman and judge at the same time."
From Reuters ● Apr. 18, 2022
“We’d play doctor and patient, or teacher and student,” said Tenbarge, who is a student at Ohio State University, studying journalism.
From Slate ● Jul. 25, 2018
"You're to play, doctor?" some cried, running to the dog-cart.
From The Little Minister by J. M. (James Matthew) Barrie
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
