play for
Idioms-
Take part for a particular reason, as in We're not playing for money, just for fun . A special usage of this idiom is play for laughs , that is, with the aim of arousing laughter.
-
play someone for . Manage someone for one's own ends, make a fool of, dupe or cheat. For example, I resent your playing me for a fool , or He suddenly found out she'd been playing him for a sucker . This usage employs play in the sense of “exhaust a hooked fish,” that is, manage it on the line so that it exhausts itself. [Mid-1600s]
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.
In a joint Instagram post the pair, who both play for Saracens, wrote: "Baby Packer due October 2026 and your mummies and big brother can't wait to meet you."
From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026
The victory left Sindarov in a commanding position at the Candidates tournament, where the winner gets the chance to play for the World Chess Championship.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
Luka Doncic won’t play for the Lakers against the Wizards on Monday night because of a one-game suspension he received for his 16th technical foul.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026
The 34-year-old Neymar returned to Brazil in 2025 after a spell in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal to play for his first club Santos.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
“I’ll play for you sometime. Just not right now.”
From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling
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.
