toy with
Idioms-
Amuse oneself idly with, trifle, as in He teased her, toying with her as a cat toys with a mouse . [Early 1500s]
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Treat casually or without seriousness, as in I'm toying with the idea of writing a novel . [Early 1800s]
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.
For her Netflix version, Smith Metzler tweaks the plot to toy with our unconscious ideas of upper-class power dynamics.
From Salon • Jun. 5, 2025
“I’m always trying to toy with that idea of her brain works too fast for her mouth,” she says.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 7, 2025
He was criticised for the way he tried to toy with Sri Lanka's bowlers in the third Test, some suggesting it was a sign of complacency.
From BBC • Sep. 24, 2024
He comes across as a clear minded individual, not one to fall for the promise of a shiny new toy with no substance to it.
From BBC • Aug. 1, 2024
His left arm shot out, sort of like a toy with a spring-loaded karate chop.
From "When I Was the Greatest" by Jason Reynolds
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.
