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Synonyms

play the game

Idioms  

  1. Behave according to accepted customs, obey the rules. For example, Not every foreign company can be counted on to play the game. The game here alludes to a sport with a set of rules. [Late 1800s] Also see play games.

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.

“Actually knowing the rules allows the banks to play the game better,” said Barclays bank analyst Jason Goldberg.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

"Wait for 24 hours, let us play the game which is more important."

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

He posited that if AI comes to shape too much of game-day strategizing, “We can just play the game without the players and coaches,” almost as if the “Madden NFL” videogame replaced the actual NFL.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 6, 2026

"This is their second year being around Ad and there's a marked difference in the way they play the game from a belief and confidence standpoint," said Allen.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

Fortunately, he gave up and decided to just play the game.

From "Counting by 7s" by Holly Goldberg Sloan

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.