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.

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Example Sentences

"We did not play the game, we played the occasion, and it became far too big for us," said Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Roughly 21,000 people have signed up to play the game, called “Fantasy Box Office,” since it launched last year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

So the foundation might be the same, but she has got to kind of play the game for a while and she’s got to find out information from them first.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 19, 2026

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

From Barron's • Feb. 14, 2026

If you didn’t play chess, it was nearly impossible to enter Bobby’s world, and yet his disrespect seemed to be directed more at weak players than those who didn’t know how to play the game.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• acclimate
• accommodate
• accustom
• alter
• comply
• conform
• fit
• modify
• prepare
• readjust
• revise
• shape
• suit
• tailor