play at

Idioms  

1. Do or take part in half-heartedly, as in She was just playing at keeping house, letting the others do all the work. [Mid-1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

play at

Previous to that excursion, the biggest trip I can remember making was driving 90 miles from Louisville to watch the Cincinnati Reds play at Crosley Field.

From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2026

“With a rate hike in play at next week’s Fed meeting, higher mortgage rates and more pressure on home sales are likely in the near-term,” Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, said in a statement.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 10, 2026

It is a formidable array of qualities but they cannot all play at the same time.

From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026

In 2026, the Los Angeles Angels play at Angel Stadium: same team, same ballpark, different names for both.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

She is not Shae, the dwarf told himself, only some little fool who thinks I play at riddles.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin