Phrasal verbs start with ‘Play’ (Phrasal Verbs With Play). A Phrasal verb like Play about, Play along, Play around, Play at, Play back, and more.
Phrasal Verbs With ‘Play’
Play about
Meaning: Be silly
Example: Tell the children not to play about a flame.
Play along
Meaning: Pretend to agree or accept something in order to keep someone happy or to get more information
Example: I am glad you’ve decided to play along.
Play around
Meaning: Be silly
Example: Play around with the ingredients if you like.
Play at
Meaning: Pretend to be something
Example: We are going to see the new play at the Playhouse.
Play back
Meaning: Listen to or watch something you’ve recorded
Example: I play back the message on my answering machine.
Play down
Meaning: Try to make something seem less important
Example: The government are trying to play down their involvement in the affair.
Play off
Meaning: Play a game to decide who the winner is
Example: The top teams in each group will play off seven games against each other.
Play off
Meaning: Make people compete against each other so that you benefit
Example: The visitors will come back next Sunday to play off the game stopped by rain.
Play on
Meaning: Continue playing a sport though there might be a reason to stop
Example: The children play on the beach during the summer.
Play on
Meaning: Continue playing music
Example: We decided to play on even though it was snowing.
Play on
Meaning: Exploit a weakness
Example: There’s a good play on at the local theatre.
Play on
Meaning: Pun
Example: It’s a mean trick to play on someone.
Play out
Meaning: Progress, often till it finishes
Example: The debate will play out in the meetings and in the media over the next week or two.
Play out
Meaning: Pretend that something is real and reduce its effect
Example: Mummy says I can play out in the garden.
Play out
Meaning: Play something to the end
Example: Our children like to play out after school.
Play out
Meaning: Unwind (e.g., fishing line)
Example: She continued to play out her role of dutiful daughter.
Play up
Meaning: Behave badly
Example: Play up your strongest arguments in the opening paragraph.
Play up to
Meaning: Flatter someone
Example: It seems the young drivers like to play up to an audience.
Play up to
Meaning: Behave in a way expected
Example: Playing up to it, he gives an autograph and we board for free.
Play upon
Meaning: Exploit a weakness
Example: Witches, fortunetellers are suchlike who play upon people’s superstitious fear.
Play with
Meaning: Touch and move something to occupy your hands
Example: It is better to play with the ears than the tongue.
Play with
Meaning: Not eat much of a meal
Example: It is dangerous for children to play with gunpowder.
Play with
Meaning: Consider something, but not seriously
Example: It’s wrong for a man to play with a woman’s affections.
