Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[play] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY, DOUBLE PLAY, FAIR PLAY, FORCE PLAY, GAME AT WHICH TWO CAN PLAY, MAKE A PLAY FOR, TURN ABOUT IS FAIR PLAY.

[play along (with)]{v.} Cooperate; make no trouble. •/The honest jockey refused to play along with the bookmaker’s illegal plan./

[play a part in]{v. phr.} To be instrumental in; have a role in; be concerned with. •/Some First Ladies play a greater part in political life than others./

[play around] See: FOOL AROUND.

[play around with] See: TOY WITH.

[play a waiting game]{v. phr.} To withhold action until one’s chances for success improve. •/Ray would like to be vice president of the company so he is playing a waiting game in the hope that the president will soon recognize his abilities./

[play ball]{v. phr.} 1. To begin play in a ball game. •/When the umpire calls "Play ball," the game begins./ 2. {informal} To join in an effort with others; cooperate. •/To get along during Prohibition, many men felt that they had to play ball with gangsters./ •/A is often good business to play ball with a political machine./

[play by ear]{v. phr.} 1. To play a musical instrument by remembering the tune, not by reading music. •/Mary does not know how to read music. She plays the piano by ear./ •/Joe doesn’t need any music sheets when he plays his guitar; he knows many songs well and can play them by ear./ 2. {informal} To decide what to do as you go along; to fit the situation. — Used with "it". •/John decided to play it by ear when he went for his interview./ •/It was her first job and she didn’t know what to expect, so we had to play it by ear./

[play cat and mouse with]{v. phr.} To tease or fool (someone) by pretending to let him go free and then catching him again. •/Joe’s uncle had fun playing cat and mouse with him./ •/The policeman decided to play cat and mouse when he saw the woman steal the dress in the store./

[play down]{v.} To give less emphasis to; make (something) seem less important; divert attention from; draw notice away from. •/The newspaper stories played down the actor’s unattractive past./ •/A salesman’s job is to emphasize the good points of his merchandise; he must play down any faults it has./

[played out]{adj. phr.} Tired out; worn out; finished; exhausted. •/It had been a hard day, and by night he was played out./ •/For a while, at least, it seemed the interest in great speed was played out./ Compare: ALL IN.

[play fair]{v. phr.} To do what is right to others; act in a fair and truthful way. •/The boys like the principal because he always plays fair./ •/Mary would not date any other boys while Jim, her favorite boyfriend, was away; she said that would not be playing fair./

[play fast and loose]{v. phr.} To do as you please without caring what will happen to other people; act so carelessly or unfairly that people cannot depend on you; be very unreliable. •/He played fast and loose with the girl’s affections./ •/He played fast and loose with the company’s good name./