Словарь американских идиом: 8000 единиц

[play footsie]{v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Touch the feet of a member of the opposite sex under the table as an act of flirtation. •/Have you at least played footsie with her?/ 2. To engage in any sort of flirtation or collaboration, especially in a political situation. •/The mayor was suspected of playing footsie with the Syndicate./

[play for keeps]{v. phr.} To take an action of finality and irreversibility. •/"Are you serious about me?" she asked. "Yes," he replied. "I want to marry you. I play for keeps."/

[play hard to get]{v. phr.} To act as if one weren’t interested; be fickle; be coy. •/"Professor Brown is playing very hard to get," our dean said, "but I know he will accept our offer and come to teach here."/

[play havoc with] or [raise havoc with]{v. phr.} To cause destruction; ruin; injure badly. •/The storm played havoc with the apple orchard./ •/When Ralph was arrested for stealing the car, it played havoc with his plans for going to college./ •/When Mr. White poisoned the cat, it played havoc with his reputation in the neighborhood./

[play hooky]{v. phr.}, {informal} To stay out of school to play. •/Carl is failing in school because he has played hooky so many times during the year./

[play into one’s hands]{v. phr.} To be or do something that another person can use against you; help an opponent against yourself. •/In the basketball game, Jerry’s foul played into the opponents' hands./ •/Mary and Bobby both wanted the last piece of cake, but Bobby played into Mary’s hands by trying to grab it./

[play off]{v.} 1. To match opposing persons, forces, or interests so that they balance each other. •/The girl played off her admirers against each other./ •/Britain tried to play off European nations against each other so that she would have a balance of power./ 2. To finish the playing of (an interrupted contest.) •/The visitors came back the next Saturday to play off the game stopped by rain./ 3. To settle (a tie score) between contestants by more play. /When each player had won two matches, the championship was decided by playing off the tie./

[play on] or [play upon]{v.} 1. To cause an effect on; influence. •/A heavy diet of television drama played on his feelings./ 2. To work upon for a planned effect; excite to a desired action by cunning plans; manage. •/The makeup salesman played on the woman’s wish to look beautiful./ •/In some places, leaders play upon people’s superstitious fears./ •/He played on the man’s ambition and love of honor./

[play one false]{v. phr.}, {literary} To act disloyally toward (a person); betray; cheat; deceive. •/Good faith was not in him: he played anyone false who trusted him./ •/His hopes had played him false./

[play one for]{v.}, {informal} To treat (someone) as; act toward (someone) as; handle (someone) as; handle as. •/He played the man for a sucker./