play fair

Idioms  

1. Behave honestly and honorably, obey the rules, as in Not every supplier we deal with plays fair, or We can't just leave them to find their own way back—that's not playing fair. Although this idiom conjures up playing by the rules in some game or sport, it actually has been used in this figurative way since the mid-1400s. Also see play the game.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

play fair

In America, there’s a sense that too much success in business is a bad thing, and that everyone needs to play fair.

From Barron's ● May 2, 2026

He said: "I welcome the CMA's tough action today to enforce the law and make sure businesses play fair."

From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026

They tend not to play fair, and “Good Girl’s Guide” is no exception.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2024

“Things like that just don’t play fair in our mind.”

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 4, 2023

They must play fair with one another; there’s not enough to cheat with.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

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