play on

verb

1. (adverb) to continue to play

2. Also: play upon. (preposition) to exploit or impose upon (the feelings or weakness of another) to one's own advantage

3. (adverb) cricket to hit the ball into one's own wicket

Idioms and Phrases

Also, play upon. Take advantage of or make use of for a desired effect, as in These health care ads are meant to play on our fears. This idiom uses play in the sense of “performing on an instrument.” Shakespeare used it in Hamlet (3:2): “You would play upon me; you would seem to know my stops.” [Late 1500s]

Example Sentences

Injured goalkeeper Alisson 'will not play on Saturday'

From BBC

What wasn’t clear until the end of play on Sunday, however, was whether the Dodgers would be facing the Cincinnati Reds or New York Mets to open the postseason.

From Los Angeles Times

When the draw for the singles came out following play on Saturday, English and Hovland were paired in the 12th match.

From BBC

In 1991 American Steve Pate was injured in a car crash before the Ryder Cup started, and in 1993 Europe's Sam Torrance could not play on the Sunday because of an infected toe.

From BBC

A neck injury to Viktor Hovland means the rarely used envelope rule could come into play on the final day of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York on Sunday.

From BBC

Related Words

• adopt 
• apply 
• employ 
• handle 
• manage 
• operate 
• practice 
• run 
• spend 
• utilize 
• wield 
• work