play into the hands of

1. Act so as to give an advantage to an opponent, as in The senator played right into the hands of her opponents when she backed that unpopular amendment to the tax bill. [c. 1700]

Example Sentences

And all this may play into the hands of China, Washington’s main rival for influence in Southeast Asia.

From Salon

MP Viktor Sobolev said a temporary ceasefire would only play into the hands of the Ukrainians as it would allow them to "regroup in 30 days, replenish their ranks and be replenished with drones".

From BBC

Live Nation’s CEO, Michael Rapino, emails Oak View Group’s CEO and says it would be “stupid” to “play into the hands” of the artist’s agent by letting the companies bid against each other to promote the tour.

From Slate

Do you think the large absence of seeing the murder of Jewish people, and hearing it only through sound, might play into the hands of Holocaust deniers?

From Salon

Mr. Austin also encouraged Israeli government officials to work toward a two-state solution that would grant a homeland to the Palestinians, warning that “ongoing instability and insecurity only play into the hands of Hamas. So we must think together about what lies beyond this terrible season of terror and war.”

From Washington Times