play possum

Cultural  

1. To pretend to be dead, a trick used by opossums to defend themselves from predators: “Everyone thought the old con man had died, but it turned out he was just playing possum.” By extension, it also means “to pretend to be asleep, or to lie low”: “Come on, Harry, open your door. You can't play possum forever.”

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play possum Idioms  

1. Pretend to be dead or asleep, as in Max always plays possum when it's time to clean up his room. This expression alludes to the fact that the opossum falls into an apparent coma when caught, giving the appearance of death. [1820s]

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Example Sentences

Aware of the danger these players possess, defenders are drawn towards the City attackers, which in turn frees up space in the wide areas, allowing Nunes and O'Reilly to receive the ball unmarked.

From BBC • Dec. 27, 2025

Hamler said he atoned for his drop because he has that short memory that cornerbacks have and the chutzpa that undrafted, overlooked players possess.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 15, 2021

“But not at the expense, from my perspective, of the best player on the board — especially if those players possess the ability to go the other way with power.”

From New York Times • Feb. 22, 2019

These savvy players possess the type of know-how needed to help the Wizards get back on track.

From Washington Post • Mar. 24, 2014

People seldom appreciate the vast knowledge of music and the remarkable ability in sight-reading which these orchestra players possess.

From Stars of the Opera by Wagnalls, Mabel