| bring into play |
to put into motion or effect. |
| by-play |
less important action that takes place at the same time as the main action, esp. in a play. |
| child's play |
something that is very easily done; cinch. |
| double play |
in baseball, a single play in which two players are put out. |
| fair play |
the act of following, honorably, the established rules of a game or sport; honorable conduct in business or any other competitive activity. |
| foul play |
treacherous action, esp. violence against a person or persons. |
| match play |
a type of golf competition in which each side scores a point for each hole won, regardless of the total number of strokes. (Cf. medal play.) |
| medal play |
a type of golf competition in which the total number of strokes taken by each side determines the score. (Cf. match play.) |
| miracle play |
a type of medieval religious drama that depicted the lives of saints or Biblical stories. |
| morality play |
an allegorical drama with characters that personify certain vices and virtues, intended for the moral and theological instruction of the audience. |
| mystery play |
a medieval representation, in dramatic form, of a Biblical event, esp. the life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Cf. miracle play, morality play.) |
| passion play |
a play, often performed around Easter, reenacting the suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross and the events relating to it. |
| play a trick |
to carry out a plan that deceives or makes a fool of someone and gives amusement to oneself or others (usu. fol. by "on"). |
| play along |
to cooperate or pretend as if one is cooperating or agreeing. |
| play ball |
(slang) to do exactly as requested, esp. to avoid trouble or harm to oneself or others. |
| play by ear |
to play (a piece of music) just from the memory of the sound of it and not from reading the musical notation. [2 definitions] |
| play down |
to talk or act as if (something) is not as serious, great, or significant as it is. |
| play footsie with |
(informal) to engage in flirtation or surreptitious sexual intimacies with, as by touching someone's foot beneath a table. [2 definitions] |
| play havoc with |
to destroy. [2 definitions] |
| play hob with |
to treat or trick mischievously. |