P
Idioms beginning with "P"
Part of speech, explanation, example sentences, pronunciation
Categories:
Contents of P:
[play the field] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To date many different people; not always have dates with the same person.
Al had a steady girlfriend, but John was playing the field.
Jim was crazy about Mary, but she was still playing the field.
[…]
[play the game] {v. phr.}, {informal}
To obey the rules; do right; act fairly.
"That's not playing the game," we told him when he wanted to desert his wife.
* /"Oh, let's play the game," he said, when his partner suggested a way to keep from […]
[play the market] {v. phr.}
To try to make money on the stock market by buying and selling stocks,
John lost all his savings playing the market.
Sometimes Mr. Smith makes a lot of money when he plays the market, and sometimes he loses.
[play to the gallery] {v. phr.}
To try to get the approval of the audience.
Whenever John recites in class he seems to be playing to the gallery.
* /The lawyer for the defense was more interested in playing to the gallery than in winning the […]
[play tricks on] {v. phr.}
To make another the victim of some trick or joke.
Al got angry when his classmates played a trick on him by hiding his clothes while he was swimming.
[play up] {v.}
To call attention to; talk more about; emphasize.
The coach played up the possibilities, and kept our minds off our weaknesses.
The director played up the woman's glamor to conceal her lack of acting ability.
[play up to] {v. phr.}. {slang}
1. To try to gain the favor of, especially for selfish reasons; act to win the approval of; try to please.
He played up to the boss.
2. To use (something) to gain an end; to attend to (a weakness).
* /He played up […]
[play with fire] {v. phr.}
To put oneself in danger; to take risks.
Leaving your door unlocked in New York City is playing with fire.
The doctor told Mr. Smith that he must watch his diet if he doesn't want to play with fire.
Compare: [SKATE […]
[plough] or [plow through] {v. phr.}
Pass through laboriously.
Saw had to plough through hundreds of pages of American history to get ready for his test.